Ep. 156: The Seven Deadly Sins

September 22, 2024 Peter Jans

Intro

Hello and Welcome to this episode of the podcast, "The Mnemonic Tree", where we add a single mnemonic leaf to our Tree of Knowledge.

I’m Jans your Mnemonic Man and today we delve into the darker side and will be on the seven deadly sins otherwise known as the capital vices or cardinal sins.

The grouping of these seven deadly sins evolved over time starting with Tertullian and progressed with Evagrius Ponticus. The seven deadly sins are as follows:

Lust
Wrath
Pride
Envy
Gluttony
Greed
Sloth

These sins are directly opposed by the seven capital virtues which are:

· Humility

· Charity

· Chastity

· Kindness

· Temperance

· Patience

· Diligence

These seven deadly sins are a moral warning as to the spiritual decay caused by indulging in such behaviours. This has been indicated in literature, religious teachings, and art and encourages a moral path over the consequences of these seven vices.

Today’s mnemonic will be on the seven deadly sins.

So, with that being said, we will begin with a summary from Wikipedia.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Seven_Deadfly_Sins,_1547.svg

Wikipedia Summary

The seven deadly sins, also known as the capital vices or cardinal sins, function as a grouping and classification of major vices within the teachings in Christianity and Islam.[1] According to the standard list, the seven deadly sins in Christianity are pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth.

In Christianity, the classification of deadly sins into a group of seven originated with Tertullian, and continued with Evagrius Ponticus.[2] The concepts of the sins involved were in part based on Greco-Roman and Biblical antecedents.

Later, the concept of seven deadly sins evolved further, based upon historical context based upon the Latin language of the Roman Catholic Church, though with a significant influence from the Greek language and associated religious traditions.

Knowledge of the seven deadly sin concept is known through discussions in various treatises and also depictions in paintings and sculpture, for example, architectural decorations on certain churches of certain Catholic parishes and also from certain older textbooks.[1] Further information has been derived from patterns of confessions.

Subsequently, over the centuries into modern times, the idea of sins (especially seven in number) has permutated in various ways into the streams of religious and philosophical thought, fine art painting, and popular culture, including literature and new forms of media such as moving pictures and digital streaming.

Extracted from: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_deadly_sins]

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hieronymus_Bosch-_The_Seven_Deadly_Sins_and_the_Four_Last_Things.JPG

Mnemonic

The Seven Deadly Sins Mnemonic – LoW PEGGS

(Picture washing seven T-shirts each with a deadly sin written on it in bold. You now hang those seven T-shirts with giant pegs which make the seven deadly sin T-shirts hang low)

Lust
Wrath
Pride
Envy
Gluttony
Greed
Sloth

Five Fun Facts

1. As stated in the Wikipedia article the Seven Deadly Sins are closely linked to Christianity and Islam. They were originally compiled by theologians as vices that lead to further immoral behaviour.

2. The seven deadly sins are considered "deadly" because it is believed they can do terrible damage to the soul. They can become entrenched in one’s character and thus alienate that person from God and virtue.

3. Strangely enough the seven deadly sins are not mentioned in the Bible. Individual sins are mentioned in the scriptures however, it is believed that Pope Gregory I compiled a list of biblical sins and called them deadly in 600 AD.

4. A brief description of the seven deadly sins is as follows:

Lust – Is an intense longing or unbridled desire, such as for money, or power
Wrath – Is uncontrolled feelings of anger, rage, and even hatred
Pride - Is the opposite of humility and the devil’s most essential trait
Envy - Is a sad or resentful covetousness towards the traits or possessions of someone else
Gluttony - Is the overindulgence and overconsumption of anything to the point of waste
Greed - Is a desire to acquire or possess more than one needs
Sloth - Is a lack of any feeling about self or other, a mind-state that gives rise to boredom, rancour, apathy, and a passive inert or sluggish mentation

Now, I was going to tell a joke about a sloth crossing the road … but unfortunately, it would take too long … …! So, I’m going to tell you a story about an old friend of mine called Little Johny. Anyway, like me Little Johny had a Catholic upbringing and one day he was in confession when the priest asked him if he had any sins to confess.

Anyway, Little Johny vaunted to the priest that he had committed all the seven deadly sins in just 30 minutes. So, the priest’s ears pricked up and he said “Go on.” Little Johny said, “I was angry and envious at my neighbour so I lazily seduced his wife, ate all of his groceries, of which I didn't share.”

Anyway, the priest being very astute said “But you forgot pride?” Little Johny promptly replied, “No I’m pretty proud of it!”

5. The antithesis of the seven deadly sins are the seven capital virtues not to be confused with the seven heavenly virtues. They were formally enumerated by Pope Gregory I in the 6th century and elaborated by St. Thomas Aquinas and are as follows:

· Humility

· Charity

· Chastity

· Kindness

· Temperance

· Patience

· Diligence

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Seven_Deadly_Sins,_St._Peter%27s_Church,_Linchmere.JP

Three Question Quiz

Q.1. Pope Gregory I commonly known as Saint Gregory the Great thought that which sin breeds all the others and is therefore the most serious offence?

Q.2. Dante and Chaucer have used the seven deadly sins as a theme in their writings? Is that True or False

Q.3. One of the specific punishments for Gluttony is “To be forced to eat rats, snakes, spiders, and toads? Is that True or False

Bonus Q. Which 1995 movie’s plot was around the seven deadly sins and which two actors did it star?

Mnemonic Recap

The Seven Deadly Sins Mnemonic – LoW PEGGS

(Picture washing seven T-shirts each with a deadly sin written on it in bold. You now hang those seven T-shirts with giant pegs which make the seven deadly sin T-shirts hang low)