What Ever Happened to the Seven Deadly Sins?

These are supposed to be bad, bad, things, and yet every where you look you can easily spot someone of Religion embracing them in everyday life. What happened to the fear? Who took the "deadly" out of the Deadly Sins?
Let me review them if I will, and ponder why we over look them or have changed them to suit our purposes of the times?

1. LUST

   Originally this sin was "Luxuria" or Extravagance. Is it just me or does it seem to you that a whole lot of supposedly good people of Religion embrace luxury and extravagance? Maybe that is why this sin was shaved down to simply be "lust". Now it is merely sinful to be lustful, or wanting of sex, typically for that which is out of reach or taboo.

2. GLUTTONY

   So if this is such a sin, why are there so many fat Christians? You cannot tell me that it is all people with gladular problems. That's right, these people are obviously eating more than their share, more than they need, and more than they should according this "deadly" sin.

3. GREED

   Well not too many people I know are willing to live on minimum wage, even though it really can be done. Most people are basically greedy, and this includes people whose religion tells them that Greed is a sin. You do not need a big house, a new car, (or any car), more than two pairs of shoes, and you do not need a cell phone. You can live without a computer, Internet, and even cable television. Greed is a sin, it deprives other people of things. Every wealthy person deprives several low income people of many things, because each dollar they have, cannot belong to another person.

4. SLOTH

   The sin of being lazy. Even for a second. This really is one of those sins that changed meaning. Originally this Sin was "Sadness" or Apathy. Really this is a sin of being less than your best self. Not acting when you should. So every procrastinator is a sinner. Everyone who takes naps instead of walking the dog is a sinner, everyone who spends any time feeling sorry for themselves is a sinner. I am pretty sure at some time in everyones life they have committed this "deadly" sin. Many people do it daily.

5. WRATH

   You have never been angry right? Well the good news is that people of certain religions are simply not allowed to be angry. Isn't that great? Anger is a sin. The worst thing in the world could happen, and YOU, a good Christian cannot be angry about it. Ah.. what a wonderful world.

6. ENVY

   Oh that little green monster. Since this is a wonderfully deadly sin, it means that nobody will want what anybody else has. Yes this one certainly explains why everyone is in total harmony with their neighbours.

7. PRIDE

   Vanity is often considered the worst of all the deadly sins. It sort of makes me wonder why people dress up so fancy just to go to Church. If pride is such a sin, shouldn't people go to Church in plain, humble clothes? After all the opposite of Pride is Humility (considered the biggest virtue). God made us naked, why don't we go to church in the nude? Well, maybe not in the winter. But seriously if it's a sin to be prideful why is there such a pressure to dress up for Church? Do we really think God loves us more if we have fancy clothes?

The Seven Virtues

1. CHASTITY

   Okay, no sex before or outside of marriage. Got it?
   

2. TEMPERANCE

   Self control. Do not eat more than you need, and do not buy things you do not need.
   

3. CHARITY

   Give money, excess, and time, to others.
   

4. DILIGENCE

   Do not put things off, help when you can, and do not turn a blind eye to your fellow human being who is suffering.
   

5. FORGIVENESS

   It does you no good to hate another - it only hurts you.
   

6. KINDNESSS

   upposedly this is the opposite of Envy, but I am not sure how.
   

7. HUMILITY

   As mentioned before, humility is the biggest virtue.

I am not telling you how to live your life, I am not telling you these "Sins" are laws you must obey. Your Religion either tells you that, or it does not. However if your Religion tells you to behave in a certain way, and you cannot, then maybe you should consider another religion, or you will have some major issues of guilt within yourself. I am just tired of people who claim to follow a Religion, but not "really" following it. Do not just sweep the Deadly Sins under the door and pretend they do not exist for you.

Every Religion has laws and rules. Before you claim to be a "Good Christian", "Good Catholic", "Good whatever" make sure you are not behaving like a Hypocrite. Ya, sure, you can ask for forgiveness, and may even be forgiven. BUT if you committed the sin, then you are perhaps not as "Good" as you think. Follow the rules, or move on.

I have to ask what is the purpose of having these "Deadly sins" if all you have to do to relieve yourself of them is to ask for forgiveness? This is just a few things to think about. To raise your way of thinking.