The Seven Deadly Sins are said to be in some way specially bad sins, they are
Gregory the Great listed seven:- Pride, envy, anger, dejection or sloth, avarice or greed, gluttony and lust
Ironically, most of these "sins" are emotions and unless you act on them no harm results. Even if you act on, these emotions it can be good rather than harmful.
- Envy and greed can lead you to work hard and get the things you want or that other people have.
- When you are proud that you have done something well that can encourage you to do as well or better in future.
- Anger or wrath is more often than not destructive but being angry about harmful things can encourage us to work and put things right.
- Even for Christians sexual lust can lead to romance and marriage. Sexual lust is harmless pleasure provided you don't cheat on your regular partner, respect your partner and take care not to create an unwanted child. When you don't act on lust sexual frustration can be very harmful.
Are they worse than other sins? Really?
When people beleive they have committed one or more deadly sin that makes them feel guilty and inferior. Then their church or the leaders of their church can more easily control them. Emotions are harder to control than actions so Christians continually feel these emotions, can't stop feeling that way and the guilt thing follows.
See also
- Humanist morality How to lead a moral life without religious people making you feel guilty
References useful as external links