The Seven Deadly Sins
1. Pride is at work
when we are unable to celebrate another‘s good fortune or find it hard to face
our own imperfections. National pride in excess leads to racism, terrorism and
even genocide
Example: In just three months, an estimated 800000 people were
massacred in the Rwandan genocide of 1994 when the Hutu tribe began
killing the Tutsi tribe.
2. Envy serves as the
basis for our consumerist society – we buy because we want more in order to be
satisfied. Envy means never being happy with what you have
Example: Someone is envious because someone else has something they don't. This can lead to stealing.
3. Gluttony is
self-absorption and the inability to recognise the needs of others. Destroying
and polluting the environment for economic gain, economic policy that keeps the
majority of the wealth in the hands of the few whilst millions are in poverty
and increasing levels of obesity are all evidence of gluttony
Example: Destroying forests to sell paper and wood. This is not a sustainable thing to do and can end up
killing many animals.
4. Lust is an
inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body. It may lead to extra marital
affairs, sexual abuse or rape. However it is not just sexual sin. Gollum in Lord
of the Rings has an inordinate craving for the ring and its powers
Example: Being married to someone while dating someone else. This can lead
to depression and violence with both people.
5. Anger, when it is
arises from inordinate and uncontrolled feelings of hatred and fury can lead to
crimes such as assault, murder and acts of vengeance. Anger when it is
appropriately expressed can be a force for change – it is how we express it
that may cause problems
Example: Someone who is stressed and frustrated at most things. This can
lead to violence.
6. Greed is the desire
for material wealth or gain. Amassing large amounts of wealth, land, and
resources with a disregard for how this leads to less being available for
others characterises greed
Example: Having lots of money and not donating it to a good cause.
7. Slothfulness is the
avoidance of physical or spiritual work including not acting when one should.
Allowing bullying to occur and not acting to do something about it is an
example of the vice of slothfulness
Example: Letting bullying occur. This can lower someone’s self-esteem and
make them feel unsafe.
The Seven Virtues
The Theological Virtues: (Faith, Hope, and Love/charity)
1.
Faith is concerned about things
revealed by God which exceed the ability of human reason to grasp.
Example: Someone who prays and goes to church often.
2.
Hope
looks expectantly to the future. Through the virtue of hope, a person awaits
the fulfilment of the promises of God
Example:
Someone who is hopeful about most things. This means that they will be very
positive.
3.
Charity is the love of God in the form of human friendship
Example: Donating to charities and helping people that are
not very fortunate.
The
Cardinal Virtues
1.
Prudence makes it possible for people to choose that
act which here and now best helps them to move in the direction of their final
end. The entire process of prudence has its source in understanding
Example:
Someone who is determined to do well in life and be able to enjoy life. This means
that they would have almost no reason to commit a crime.
2.
Justice is the virtue that perfects the will. It
regulates the voluntary actions when people relate to each other
Justice
is important for everyone. If people have a good sense of justice people would
not commit crimes.
3.
Fortitude is a virtue that implies a certain firmness of
mind, which is necessary for the practice of any of the virtues. It enables us
to curb our fears and to moderate our daring
Fortitude
is important as it is important to learn this to practice of the other virtues
and can lead to less crime.
4.
Temperance is principally, but not solely, concerned with
the pleasures of food and drink and about sexual pleasures
This is important as it can lead to less sexual crimes in the
world.
