You may think you're already pretty familiar with the concept of the seven deadly sins. You may even be able to rattle them off fairly easily, perhaps recalling the latest book, movie, or TV show that references the concept. But if you need a refresher, no worries. As they're generally understood today, the sins in question include: lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride. Indulging in any one of these sins could get you into a pretty bad place, morally speaking. And, if you're a believer in Abrahamic religions like Christianity, you may also believe that any one of these sins could put you on a dark path towards damnation.
Here's What They Never Told You About Sin
While religion can provide a sense of meaning and the belief that life in this world isn't all that's out there, it's no secret that it also provides a blueprint for how everyone should be living their day-to-day lives. Sinning is a huge deal, and here's the weird thing: No one can even decide just when it got a first mention in the Bible.
While religion can provide a sense of meaning and the belief that life in this world isn't all that's out there, it's no secret that it also provides a blueprint for how everyone should be living their day-to-day lives. Sinning is a huge deal, and here's the weird thing: No one can even decide just when it got a first mention in the Bible.
An all-knowing, all-powerful god would by definition be beyond mortal comprehension. To concede such informs an entire school of theology — apophasis — that stretches back to ancient Greek conceptions of the divine. But to admit that God is unknowable leaves some believers struggling to understand how best to follow their faith. In the Christian tradition, this admission carries some heavy implications on the matter of sin.
Since the beginning of their faith, Christians have had to deal with two realities: (1) sin is bad, and (2) sin also tends to be kind of fun. Even St. Paul acknowledged as much in his letter to the Romans, writing, "For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate."
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