We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culture

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are the Seven Deadly Sins?

Tricia Christensen
By
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 25,957
Share

The seven deadly sins, often shown in daunting capital letters, are sins defined by the early Catholic Church as mortal or cardinal sins. As such, committing one of them was, and still is to some people, a one-way ticket to eternal damnation, if a person died without the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

These sins are far more significant than other small sins one might commit, called venial sins. It was thought that lesser sins might not bar the way to heaven, if one died without the benefit of having confessed. However, the seven deadly sins were a sure impediment without true repentance and forgiveness. They harmed the soul, and were a significant affront to God.

The seven deadly sins are Pride, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony and Lust. They each came to be associated with a certain demon as well. For example, Pride and Wrath were associated with Satan, Greed with Mammon, and Lust with Asmodeus. Leviathan was associated with Envy, Belphegor with Sloth, and Beelzebub with Gluttony. For many the world of demons was very real, and it was thought demons specifically tempted people to stray from the path of God.

There were also punishments in hell ascribed to each of the sins. First and foremost, according to Dante, is that committing one of the seven deadly sins meant never being able to escape from hell or see the face of God. In fact the agony in this permanent separation from God was the highest punishment.

Later, theologians tried to determine exactly what one would suffer for committing one of the seven deadly sins. Thus, for example, a person who was proud was broken on the wheel, the envious were placed in frozen water, the wrathful were dismembered, and the slothful were thrown into pits full of snakes. The greedy were boiled in oil, and the gluttonous had to eat toads. Those who were lustful, as in practicing adultery or unapproved sexual behaviors would be buried in fire and brimstone.

Each of the seven deadly sins contrasts specifically with the seven virtues. Instead of lust, one should practice chastity. Wrath or anger is opposite to meekness or composure. The greedy should instead be charitable, and humility helps to conquer pride. Sloth or idleness opposes diligence or zeal for work, and gluttony is opposite to temperance. Envy should be stamped out by kindness or admiring other people’s gifts and abilities.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Tricia Christensen
By Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia Christensen is based in Northern California and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her writing. Her wide-ranging interests include reading, writing, medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion, all of which she incorporates into her informative articles. Tricia is currently working on her first novel.
Discussion Comments
By StormyKnight — On Jun 17, 2011

I certainly don’t want this to sound like bible study time but I just wanted to comment on what you are talking about. First, I want to say that this is a great article and has great conversation going.

Now, I will add my two cents, per se. In 1 John, 1:9, it states “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. In my opinion, that means that all sins are forgivable.

In addition, I don’t know of anywhere in the Bible where it states that the seven sins are “deadly”. It does, however, state that God detests the sins.

By CarrotIsland — On Jun 16, 2011

@gardenturtle- I agree with snowywinter. I also believe that a sin is a sin in the eyes of God. In His eyes, no one sin is worse than another is. If the seven deadly sins were truly unforgivable, we would all be damned. I have certainly committed gluttony on more than one occasion. I have lusted for things that other people have.

I believe that, like the Ten Commandments, the seven deadly sins are meant to be guidelines. I would be curious to know where it says “deadly” in the Bible.

As snowywinter stated, these are just my beliefs and opinions and the seven deadly sins list is not technically "deadly".

By SnowyWinter — On Jun 14, 2011

@gardenturtle- This is definitely a topic for debate. This is just my personal beliefs and opinions. The Bible does list the seven deadly sins but I believe that people misinterpret them. It is a misconception that there is no forgiveness for these sins. If they were unforgivable, many of us would be in big trouble, including myself. The Bible is clear that the only sin that is very unforgivable is nonbelief. Being a nonbeliever means that you don’t believe in forgiveness in the first place.

By GardenTurtle — On Jun 11, 2011

I know that the seven deadly sins exist but I'm not sure about the eternal damnation part of it. I thought that God forgives all sins, no matter what they are. Having seven sins that are excluded doesn't make sense to me. Can anyone elaborate?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-seven-deadly-sins.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.