Which are the 7 capital sins?
The seven deadly sins correspond to the classification of man’s vices or desires according to the moral teachings of Christianity. The deadly sins They are lust, gluttony, greed, laziness, anger, envy and pride.
These sins are called “capital” because they constitute the source, principle or “head” of other sins.
This means that the compulsion for capital sins tempts people to satisfy their desire at all costs, which involves committing other sins to achieve it.
In that sense, whoever is moved by capital sins dehumanizes himself and others by reducing them to mere obstacles to his desire or instruments of his will.
Hieronymus Bosch: Table of deadly sins. 1505-1510. Oil on poplar wood panel. 119.5 x 139.5 m.
The capital sins are not described and ordered in a list in the Bible, however, they are referred to throughout the Holy Book.
In the 6th century, the Roman Pope Gregory the Great first made the list of capital sins. Later, Saint Thomas Aquinas ordered them and listed the sins in seven.
The capital sins are opposed seven virtues: chastity, temperance, generosity, industry, patience, charity and modesty.
Various artists have been inspired by the seven deadly sins to create works of great significance. Among the most famous are Dante Alighieri with his poetic work. The Divine Comedy and the pictorial piece by Jheronimus Bosch called The table of deadly sins.
1. Lust
Lust is the sin of indulging in thoughts that are considered impure because of their excessive sexual compulsion. It is the disordered search to satisfy sexual pleasure without limits, which can generate and degenerate into dehumanizing attitudes and processes.
2. Gluttony
Gluttony is the excessive consumption of food and drink, gluttony taken to its maximum expression. It is the vice of eating irrationally, voraciously, which leads to serious physical and social consequences. The same happens with drinks, the excess of which makes the person get drunk and lose their mind.
3. Greed
Avarice or greed is a sin of excess just like lust and gluttony, but excess manifests itself in the desire to possess material goods and wealth thoughtlessly. Misers want to have large amounts of objects or money that they overvalue. They do not care about the means by which they can obtain them.
4. Laziness
Laziness is the inability to take charge of one’s own existence and the spiritual obligations of the faith one practices. Through laziness or apathy, people forget about self-care and also neglect the love that is due to God. laziness, therefore, generates sadness, reluctance and isolation.
5. Anger
Anger is an uncontrolled and excessive feeling of rage or anger, which drives one to commit acts of physical violence against others or against oneself. Anger is related to impotence in the face of reality and impatience, and awakens attitudes such as discrimination and execution outside the law.
6. Envy
Envy corresponds to the feeling of regret for the good or success of third parties. In that sense, envy is not simply the desire to have what the other has, but the desire that the other does not have any good. Therefore, envy is a vice that leads to wishing evil on others.
7. Pride
Pride is the uncontrolled appreciation of our own value, attractiveness and importance in the eyes of others. It is considered one of the most serious sins. Arrogant people are characterized by considering themselves superior to those around them. Narcissism or vanity is a way of being arrogant.
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