The Seven Deadly Sins

The Seven Deadly Sins are probably the most famous list of sins in the world. You’ve likely heard about them in movies, books, or even during a Sunday sermon. But do you really know what they mean? Let’s take a closer look.

What Are the Seven Deadly Sins?

The Seven Deadly Sins are seven behaviors or feelings that people believe lead to all kinds of bad actions.

Curious about how each of the 7 deadly sins' meanings affects our lives today? Let’s unpack them:

1. The Sin of Pride: It can lead to arrogance and lying because you don’t want to admit fault.
2. The Sin of Greed: Often drives people to take more than they need, even resorting to cheating or exploitation.
3. The Sin of Lust: Sometimes tied to actions that raise questions like, is masturbation sexual immorality?
4. The Sin of Envy: Makes us resentful instead of grateful.
5. The Sin of Gluttony: Overindulgence that can turn into addiction.
6. The Sin of Wrath: Leads to vengeance and harsh words, some even ask, is cursing a sin?
7. The Sin of Sloth: Laziness in body or spirit, neglecting duty and faith.

Think of them as the big red flags of human behavior. They don’t just harm you—they also hurt other people and create problems in the world. They’re called “deadly” because they can ruin your relationship with others, with God (in religious teachings), and even with yourself.

Where Did This List Come From?

The Seven Deadly Sins didn’t come straight from the Bible. Instead, they were created by Christian leaders to help people understand the main ways humans mess up. Here’s how it happened:

• 4th Century: A monk named Evagrius Ponticus made a list of “evil thoughts.” He believed these thoughts distracted people from living a good life.
• 6th Century: Pope Gregory I took this list and changed it into the seven sins we know today. He wanted to make it simple for people to understand.
• The Middle Ages: Writers like Dante Alighieri (in his Divine Comedy) made the Seven Deadly Sins famous by describing what happens to people who commit them.

Over time, the list became an easy way to teach people about right and wrong. Let’s go one by one and explain these sins in a simple way:

1. Pride - Pride means thinking you’re better than everyone else. It’s like saying, “I’m too good for help,” or “I don’t need anyone, not even God.” This kind of attitude can make you selfish and blind to your own mistakes.
2. Greed - The sin of greed is wanting more than you need. It’s not just about money—it can also mean hoarding power, food, or anything else. Greedy people often take from others, leaving them with nothing.
3. Lust - Lust is when you can’t control your desire for physical pleasure, especially sexual pleasure. It’s not about love—it’s about treating people like objects instead of respecting them.
4. Envy - The envy sin is feeling unhappy because someone else has something you want. Maybe it’s their success, looks, or possessions. Instead of being happy for them, you feel bitter or jealous.
5. Gluttony - The sin of gluttony is overdoing it, especially with food or drink. It’s eating or drinking so much that you don’t leave enough for others or harm your health.
6. Wrath - Wrath means letting anger take over. It’s not just being mad—it’s holding onto your anger so tightly that you want to hurt others or get revenge.
7. Sloth - Sloth is laziness, but not just about being physically lazy. It also means not caring about what’s important, like your responsibilities, your relationships, or even your faith.

These sins are called “deadly” because they lead to other bad behaviors. For example:

• Pride can lead to lying because you don’t want to admit you’re wrong.
• Greed can make you steal.
• Wrath can lead to violence.

In religious teachings, these sins are seen as a way to separate people from God. But even if you’re not religious, it’s easy to see how these behaviors can create problems in your life and hurt the people around you.

Are These the Worst Sins? 

These seven sins aren’t the “worst” sins in all Christian teachings. For example, the Catholic Church also talks about mortal sins, which are actions so serious they can destroy your soul if you don’t repent. Think of mortal sins as the really big stuff—like murder or betraying someone deeply. Some even include being gay a sin in theological debates, although many modern Christian communities affirm LGBTQ+ people as loved by God.

The Seven Deadly Sins are more about behaviors that make you fall into other bad habits. They’re warning signs that you’re going down the wrong path.

They aren’t just part of religious teachings anymore—they’ve become a big part of popular culture. You’ll see them in movies, books, and even art. That’s because they describe struggles everyone faces at some point. And truthfully, they are part of human nature.

By understanding them, people can reflect on their own behavior and try to make better choices.

Venial vs. Mortal Sins

In Christian teachings, not all sins are seen as equal. Some are considered more serious than others, and understanding this difference is important. At this point, the church found a way to categorize them. We have venial sins, and then we have mortal sins. But which is which?.

What Is a Mortal Sin?

A mortal sin is a very serious sin that can break your relationship with God. It’s called “mortal” because it’s considered deadly to your soul. According to Catholic teaching, committing a mortal sin puts you in a state where you need forgiveness to reconnect with God.

To be a mortal sin, three things must happen:

1. The action must be seriously wrong (like stealing something valuable or hurting someone).
2. You have to know it’s wrong.
3. You have to freely choose to do it anyway.

If all three apply, it’s a mortal sin.

Examples of Mortal Sins:

• Murder
• Adultery
• Skipping important religious duties (like not attending Sunday Mass, in Catholicism)

These are actions that go against basic teachings about love, respect, and morality.

What Is a Venial Sin?

A venial sin, on the other hand, is less serious. It’s still wrong, but it doesn’t break your connection with God in the same way. Think of venial sins as small moral mistakes. They don’t ruin your relationship with God, but they can weaken it over time.

Examples of Venial Sins:

• Telling a white lie (like saying you liked someone’s cooking when you didn’t).
• Losing your temper over something minor.
• Being lazy about doing something you’re supposed to do.

Venial sins are often unintentional or done without much thought. They’re still important to fix, but they don’t carry the same weight as mortal sins.

In Catholicism, the distinction between venial and mortal sins is important because it affects how people seek forgiveness.

• For Mortal Sins: These require the sacrament of confession (or reconciliation). In confession, a person talks to a priest about their sin and asks for forgiveness. Without this step, a mortal sin is believed to block a person’s path to heaven.
• For Venial Sins: These don’t necessarily require confession. People can pray for forgiveness or perform good deeds to make up for them.

This distinction also reminds people to take their actions seriously. While it’s easy to dismiss small mistakes (like venial sins), they can build up over time and lead to bigger problems.

What Are Cardinal Sins?

The term “cardinal sins” often comes up in discussions about morality and religion, but it’s sometimes misunderstood. Are they the same as the Seven Deadly Sins? Are they worse than other sins?

The word cardinal comes from the Latin word cardo, meaning “hinge.” In this context, it refers to sins that are foundational, like a hinge on which other bad actions turn. In simpler terms, cardinal sins are considered the root causes of other sins and moral failings.

The concept of “cardinal sins” is often used interchangeably with the Seven Deadly Sins because both focus on behaviors that lead to other wrongdoings. However, not everyone uses the term cardinal sins in a strictly religious sense. It’s more about identifying the key habits or traits that steer people toward bad choices.

The Connection to the Seven Deadly Sins

In most contexts, the Seven Deadly Sins (pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth) are referred to as the cardinal sins. Why? Because they’re seen as the “big ones” who cause other sins to happen.

For example:

• Pride can lead to lying, arrogance, or even violence.
• Greed can lead to theft or exploitation.
• Wrath can lead to harm, revenge, or broken relationships.

These sins are like seeds that grow into other forms of wrongdoing, which is why they’re considered so dangerous.

Are Cardinal Sins Worse Than Other Sins?

Not exactly. As we’ve mentioned before, sins are categorized as mortal or venial based on their seriousness. Cardinal sins don’t fall into this system—they’re more like a way to understand the patterns behind sinful behavior.

For example:

• A cardinal sin like pride might lead to a mortal sin (e.g., hurting someone out of arrogance) or a venial sin (e.g., bragging about yourself).
• The key is that cardinal sins are the starting point, not necessarily the worst offenses themselves.