What sins and virtues would you eliminate for the twenty-first century? What sins and virtues would you add for the twenty-first century?
Here are the original lists:
The Seven Deadly Sins
- Vainglory or pride
- Covetousness
- Lust
- Envy
- Gluttony
- Anger
- Sloth
The Seven Virtues
- Prudence
- Temperance
- Fortitude
- Justice
- Faith
- Hope
- Love
OK, so here’s my take. The SevenDeadlySins contain attitudes that, when taken to extremes, can screw up anybody’s life. As a friend of mine once said, she was going to write a book called How to Screw Up Your Life with Sex. And no doubt lust can ruin your life. But indulging in lust with a partner in a respectful, loving relationship is also one of the joys of life. While it’s true that half of all births, even in the US, are the result of an unintended pregnancy, birth control is readily available and usually effective. In the “olden times” pregnancy had to have been a serious consequence of lust and a significant part of what made it a sin. I believe that, to a large degree, that has been mitigated. I’d have to take lust off the list.
I’d also take anger off the list. I’m not a person that’s big on anger. I’m not comfortable with it and I don’t handle it well when I feel it. But I also don’t view it as a sin. To me it’s a normal part of the emotional spectrum.
I can’t really think of anything I’d add to the list of Deadly Sins.
And so, onto the Seven Virtues. While once again it’s true that alcohol can ruin your life, temperence is defined as abstinence and that’s just not necessary for the vast majority of the public. I don’t think that advising everyone to abstain from alcohol is even a worthy goal. A glass of wine can enhance a meal, make an occasion more enjoyable, or take the edge off a long day. And what’s wrong with any of that? Temperence can also mean moderation and undoubtedly that’s best when it comes to food and drink but the primary definition of temperence is abstinence and I can’t get behind that.
I had to look up definitions of several the virtues. Fortitude is basically courage. I can see that but I also don’t feel like it’s my place to judge people for lapses in courage in facing life’s trials or in equanimity. We can’t all be strong all the time. For that reason, I’d take fortitude off the list. I see more potential harm in having it there than in quietly dropping it.
Prudence is a good one. I had to look it up, too. It basically means exercising caution and wisdom. I can get behind that.
I have a special place in my heart for faith. It was not valued by my parents who see it more as magical or even wishful thinking. But faith has real value to me. Willingness to believe in things that I can’t prove empirically demonstrates in my own mind a willingess to believe in God and His actions. There’s just enough evangelical protestantism left over from the people in the community of my childhood (rural South) that I can’t get away from a rock solid sense that what I believe about God will count for or against me. That what I believe about God has consequence. And a lot of God you have to take on faith.
There are two virtues I would add: the first is character. Character because, and I’m stealing this sentiment from commentator David Brooks: our internal, moral struggle to develop character is the single most important struggle of our lives. Character, our adherence to our values, is also what defines us as individuals and both draws us closer to and separates us from our fellow men and womankind.
The second virtue I would add is Discipline. I say discipline because the ability to say no to ourselves, to put aside momentary pleasures for long-term goals, to develop habits upon which we can rely to build character, are worth the consistent effort and internal struggle required. For me, discipline is mainly spiritual discipline. Prayer, fasting, observing certain rituals. In other areas of my life, like exercise and diet, I fall far short on discipline. We all have our issues. I would still add it to the list of virtues.
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