Four Deadly Sins and their Impact
Anger is a feeling innate to every individual. It is part of our emotion and reactive impulse over a certain situation. But there are times that a person cannot control his anger, thus, resulting into a more intense emotion called wrath. Wrath is not only uncontrolled but it is also anger without cause. According to the religious society, anger is unlawful; therefore, no one is allowed to have this emotion (Aquinas & Gilby 51).
Wrath or anger is sometime associated to a person’s need to protect himself from criticism. Because we are sensitive to other people’s comments toward us, we usually get angry when bad words are thrown to us. Wrath serves as our defence mechanism and our shelter against social scrutinize. Hatred can turn inward on itself and become grief, sorrow, and bitterness which may lead to an “irredeemable apathy and a despairing melancholia” (Lyman 116). Wrath is a sin because it is contrary to harbour such intense feelings of anger towards other people. The bible emphasizes love and forgiveness. Wrath is inconsistent with love and forgiveness.
One of the most deadly sin is sloth. Derived from the Latin word acedia, sloth means careless action. It is an outlook in life where a person does not pay attention to the consequences of his actions. Sloth is also associated with inactiveness or laziness which leads to boredom and lack of urge to work.
Sloth is highly condemned because of its negative impact to an individual’s relationship with the world. When a person engages in careless action or he shows laziness or indolence, he detaches himself from the people around him and to the world. He also shows indifference or lack of concern to his fellow human being and to his society. Inaction implies lack of concern or sympathy. Since the bible’s teachings give emphasis on action sloth is considered as a sin. The bible teaches us to be caring for the poor, the sick and the oppressed. The bible teaches us to forgive those who have sinned against us. These teachings all emphasize action.
Envy is a feeling resulting from lacking something which the others have. Literal manifestation of this is jealousy but at an intense level. It can be envy of possession in terms of the things other persons have that one does not. It can be envy of position in terms of status other persons have achieved that one does not have. It can also be envy of person in terms of qualities that other persons have that one does not have. Envy is a poisonous emotion which can create a monster out of the person who is feeling it. Because they are bitter of someone’s happiness, jealous person becomes violent and aggressive. Being envious means lonely, isolated, longing for something, and unsatisfied.
It is considered a sin because the bible emphasizes the teaching of contentment. The bible wants us to be thankful for what we have. In fact, the bible considers those who have less in life as more blessed compared to those who have wealth.
In order to stay alive and energetic, man must eat to replenish lost energy and nourish impaired body cells. However, there are instances that man keeps on eating even with full stomach. This condition, included among the seven deadly sins, is called gluttony. Gluttony was derived from the Latin word gluttire which means to swallow or to gulp down (Trigilio & Brighenti 15). It is paranoia of somebody will eat the food intended for you and leave you with nothing.
According to Kellen, gluttony is not a simple bad habit like addiction on drugs, alcohol or cigarettes (p15). It is a trait which runs on his personality, therefore, a part of his character. This condition is difficult to overcome since it is part of a person’s mentality. It is a sin because it implies a feeling of discontentment. It is also considered a mortal sin because it implies greed. Gluttony is harmful because it tends to make a person sick due to careless food consumption. It also makes a person insensitive and mindless of other people.
Works Cited
Aquinas, T. and Gilby, T. Summa Theologiae: Volume 44, Well-Tempered Passion. UK: Cambridge University Press, 2006.
Kellen, K. Reflections on Gluttony: Understanding It and Dissolving It. Germany: Books on Demand GmbH.
Lyman, S. M. The Seven Deadly Sins Society and Evil. UK: General Hall, Inc. 1989.
Trigilio, J. and Brighenti, K. The Catholicism Answer Book: The 300 Most Frequently Asked Questions. Illinois: Sourbooks, Inc., 2007.
