CrackedCrystal
Where am I?
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2002
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Edit: mispost
Which of the seven sins is the worst?
- Thread starter Archbob
- Start date
allan2
Gone Fishing
They can all be destructive in their own ways. Also, one can lead to others, e.g.: sloth (you're lazy, so don't get very far in life) --> envy (you resent that others have gotten farther) --> greed (you will do ANYTHING to get what the other has, not necessarily through honest means). There are other such "chains" that can similarly be demonstrated.
I also interpret these a bit differently: i.e. they are generally wrong when they lead you to do actions that are wrong. And sometimes they can be virtuous, if they help you do the right thing.
For instance, I think a lot of people misunderstand "pride" as used here. I think SELF-RESPECT is a GOOD thing, and indeed is a basis for being a good person (you cannot respect others if you feel no respect for yourself--and if you RIGHTLY feel no respect for yourself because you've done awful things, you should clean up your act so you can regain self-respect). Now self-respect is often called "pride" in a GOOD way (I often call it that too). What I think they mean by "pride" in the "deadly" sense, is actually probably overcompensation for LACK of self-respect. Or it can also be "deadly" if it blinds you to the bigger picture, i.e. if you lead your nation to war because of a personal insult or something (even if the insult was totally uncalled for).
I'll perhaps comment on how the other ones can be good "in moderation" later, as it is now the end of my shift and I'm getting "kicked off" the computer by my relief....
So time for some "sloth"....
I also interpret these a bit differently: i.e. they are generally wrong when they lead you to do actions that are wrong. And sometimes they can be virtuous, if they help you do the right thing.
For instance, I think a lot of people misunderstand "pride" as used here. I think SELF-RESPECT is a GOOD thing, and indeed is a basis for being a good person (you cannot respect others if you feel no respect for yourself--and if you RIGHTLY feel no respect for yourself because you've done awful things, you should clean up your act so you can regain self-respect). Now self-respect is often called "pride" in a GOOD way (I often call it that too). What I think they mean by "pride" in the "deadly" sense, is actually probably overcompensation for LACK of self-respect. Or it can also be "deadly" if it blinds you to the bigger picture, i.e. if you lead your nation to war because of a personal insult or something (even if the insult was totally uncalled for).
I'll perhaps comment on how the other ones can be good "in moderation" later, as it is now the end of my shift and I'm getting "kicked off" the computer by my relief....
So time for some "sloth"....
MrPresident
Anglo-Saxon Liberal
The worst sin is the eighth - ignorance.
superunknown
Fake Plastic Head
These are not sins, they are just different kinds of bad character.
Richard III
Duke of Gloucester
Sloth. Implicitly, the waste of potential...
Stealing other peoples beers
Well that and murder. Unless, of course, the before mentioned was a direct result of someone stealing your beers 
No, the only real sins (well thats my view) are crimes against children, rape and stealing.
Cimbri
No, the only real sins (well thats my view) are crimes against children, rape and stealing.
Cimbri
allan2
Gone Fishing
Continuing my last post.
Where were we? Ah yes, sloth . Now relaxation is a very healthy thing. Even having a lifestyle where you give yourself a LOT of breaks and take it real easy, as opposed to the other extreme "workaholism", can have its own rewards and virtues about it--generally, it's about what you value in life overall (I'll admit right away I'm on the "lazy" side, but I'm not worrying about it). As long as you accept the balance of gains and losses you get out of life as a result of your particular inclination between "slacker" and "workaholic masochist" , it's all good, and part of the wonderful diversity of God's creation, if you will 
. Where it becomes destructive is when you DON'T accept the resulting balance sheet after being slothful.
Envy. Well, you can emulate someone for their skills, talent, material success, well-being and happiness, etc., and in that feel a twinge of envy. Now you can use that in POSITIVE ways to work hard, learn from them, and be motivated toward your goal. But if you're slothful, perhaps, you may not want to do the work you need to do to get you toward what you want, and so this may lead to bitterness when your course of action doesn't get you anywhere. (Now certainly not all materially-poor people are lazy, and in the cases where they are not I'd guess that good envy keeps them trying (and that certainly will help them), "deadly" gets them where they want to become takers by force or fraud--like muggers or scammers). There is also the kind of envy where you admire your neighbor's wife. If you temper this with respect for your neighbor's (the husband's) dignity, so that you stay away from her bed, well it's harmless then. But if you end up either getting her in bed (well, unless the husband (AND your wife, if you've got one too) approves, then whatever... ), or making an ass of yourself trying, that's the "deadly" version, IMHO.
Greed. I think it is healthy to want to provide well for your children, want the BEST for them, and are willing to be ambitious to get that. Where it becomes "deadly" is threefold: when either a) you become a "workaholic" who can never connect with those children you're "wanting the best" for--i.e. it consumes you, becomes your addiction, or b) you will use ANY means, dishonest, morally questionable, even violent, to get that material wealth, or c) (IMHO) when you withhold help for your neighbor in need (providing he's not scamming you, but perhaps give the benefit of the doubt the first time), especially if it would be a piddling amount to you.
Gluttony. Enjoying your mother's lasagna and getting a good bellyful whenever you visit--hey, she made it for YOU , she's glad you appreciate it so much.... But the "deadly" form causes health problems, and can become an addictive-compulsive behavior that is destructive. I consider addiction to alcohol, cocaine, heroin, other drugs (yeah even pot, some people just bogart that sh*t TOO much ), shopping, bad relationships (gluttony for punishment?), etc. to be other forms of "deadly" gluttony.
Wrath. DAMN I was mad on September 11!!!
But I didn't go out and beat the sh*t out of the nearest olive-skinned-and-bearded guy walking down the street. DAMN I'm mad at my girlfriend! But I didn't strike her. All I can say is, the more control you have over your anger, the better (in most cases. In some self-defense situations you must either be brutal, or die.). Try not to let your anger manifest itself in violence, or deeply hurtful words. I have a hot temper sometimes, controlling it is always a challenge for me....
Lust. A good dose of that now and then can do wonders for a marriage . Where it's "deadly" is where you disregard the honor and dignity of your wife, other married men you cockold (as versus, again, having the blessings of that spouse AND your wife, which I'm told happens in California a lot ), or cases of using force or intimidation or position to get sex (rape, REAL sexual harassment, statutory rape (taking advantage of a kid), etc.).
So you see, I interpret the adjective "deadly" here as meaning "leading you to destructive things." So if it does, beware. If it does not, proceed if you will--but with moderation and self-control.
Where were we? Ah yes, sloth
. Now relaxation is a very healthy thing. Even having a lifestyle where you give yourself a LOT of breaks and take it real easy, as opposed to the other extreme "workaholism", can have its own rewards and virtues about it--generally, it's about what you value in life overall (I'll admit right away I'm on the "lazy" side, but I'm not worrying about it). As long as you accept the balance of gains and losses you get out of life as a result of your particular inclination between "slacker" and "workaholic masochist" , it's all good, and part of the wonderful diversity of God's creation, if you will . Where it becomes destructive is when you DON'T accept the resulting balance sheet after being slothful. Envy. Well, you can emulate someone for their skills, talent, material success, well-being and happiness, etc., and in that feel a twinge of envy. Now you can use that in POSITIVE ways to work hard, learn from them, and be motivated toward your goal. But if you're slothful, perhaps, you may not want to do the work you need to do to get you toward what you want, and so this may lead to bitterness when your course of action doesn't get you anywhere. (Now certainly not all materially-poor people are lazy, and in the cases where they are not I'd guess that good envy keeps them trying (and that certainly will help them), "deadly" gets them where they want to become takers by force or fraud--like muggers or scammers). There is also the kind of envy where you admire your neighbor's wife. If you temper this with respect for your neighbor's (the husband's) dignity, so that you stay away from her bed, well it's harmless then. But if you end up either getting her in bed (well, unless the husband (AND your wife, if you've got one too) approves, then whatever...
), or making an ass of yourself trying, that's the "deadly" version, IMHO.Greed. I think it is healthy to want to provide well for your children, want the BEST for them, and are willing to be ambitious to get that. Where it becomes "deadly" is threefold: when either a) you become a "workaholic" who can never connect with those children you're "wanting the best" for--i.e. it consumes you, becomes your addiction, or b) you will use ANY means, dishonest, morally questionable, even violent, to get that material wealth, or c) (IMHO) when you withhold help for your neighbor in need (providing he's not scamming you, but perhaps give the benefit of the doubt the first time), especially if it would be a piddling amount to you.
Gluttony. Enjoying your mother's lasagna and getting a good bellyful whenever you visit--hey, she made it for YOU
, she's glad you appreciate it so much.... But the "deadly" form causes health problems, and can become an addictive-compulsive behavior that is destructive. I consider addiction to alcohol, cocaine, heroin, other drugs (yeah even pot, some people just bogart that sh*t TOO much ), shopping, bad relationships (gluttony for punishment?), etc. to be other forms of "deadly" gluttony. Wrath. DAMN I was mad on September 11!!!
But I didn't go out and beat the sh*t out of the nearest olive-skinned-and-bearded guy walking down the street. DAMN I'm mad at my girlfriend! But I didn't strike her. All I can say is, the more control you have over your anger, the better (in most cases. In some self-defense situations you must either be brutal, or die.). Try not to let your anger manifest itself in violence, or deeply hurtful words. I have a hot temper sometimes, controlling it is always a challenge for me.... Lust. A good dose of that now and then can do wonders for a marriage
. Where it's "deadly" is where you disregard the honor and dignity of your wife, other married men you cockold (as versus, again, having the blessings of that spouse AND your wife, which I'm told happens in California a lot ), or cases of using force or intimidation or position to get sex (rape, REAL sexual harassment, statutory rape (taking advantage of a kid), etc.). So you see, I interpret the adjective "deadly" here as meaning "leading you to destructive things." So if it does, beware. If it does not, proceed if you will--but with moderation and self-control.
Chairman Yang
Member
Greeeed
Chairman Yang
Member
I wonder if the god you so enthusiastically tell to bless your country all the time agrees with you on that?
The Troquelet
Conscious
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2002
- Messages
- 1,950
Lust. As played by Raquel Welch. Such wooden acting. 
Ok, so that word choice was hardly optimal
Have any of you seen that movie?
! with Dudley Moore and Peter Cook [as the Devil].
Ok, so that word choice was hardly optimal
Have any of you seen that movie?
! with Dudley Moore and Peter Cook [as the Devil].
Sultan Bhargash
Trickster Reincarnated
They are all equally DEADLY, I will say it again. Not one is worse than the others, nor are they necessarily even "bad"- just deadly- potentially fatal to those who engage in them.
Rodgers
Following YOUR child home
"Sin city?"
One of these days I'm gonna play Sin City
One of these days I'm gonna play Sin City
ferenginar
Grand Nagus
It is not possible to tell which is the worst sin, to measure the sinfullness of each you must apply a morale framework, each individuals framework will be different and thus their answers will be different. The morale framework is constructed from the combined teachings of parents, religion, schools, pers, and media. Not much chance for variation there.
Being ferengi I can assure you all that greed is most definately not a sin.
ferenginar
Being ferengi I can assure you all that greed is most definately not a sin.
ferenginar
Darkness
Shadow creature
Greed
And GreyFox is right. What's wrong with a bit of lust...
And GreyFox is right. What's wrong with a bit of lust...
CurtSibling
ENEMY ACE™
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2001
- Messages
- 29,453
I don't credit the christian relgion (or any other) as having the power to dictate to a fellow worldly being what is right and wrong.
I am a man, the chuches and temples of this world are ran by men. They are no better than I.
For, I, as a man, recognise no earthly cleric as my better, or a judge of my actions.
If you wish to let some other man overpower your wits and let them tell you that they know your heart, then that is your folly.
I will have none of that foolishness.
I know belief is no basis for human superiority, not over a man like me, by any stretch of the imagination.
Hear Hear! Curt!
*TheGreyFox thinks that much of the moral of many religions he can agree with to some degrees... Although, he also don't like the way certain religious books, and especially how interpretors of those try to tell people how they should Live their life...
*TheGreyFox thinks that much of the moral of many religions he can agree with to some degrees... Although, he also don't like the way certain religious books, and especially how interpretors of those try to tell people how they should Live their life...
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