Really, they all stem from the original seven sins.

I like the concept of The 7 Lively Sins: How to Enjoy Your Life, Dammit. Great book.

Gotta say i agree...if it's not broke, don't fix it! Seems like the original 7 were conceptual...all encompassing.

I agree as well, how are the original sins not relevant today?? And unlike the original, these sins aren't all encompassing and leave a lot of room for questioning.

I'm not sure what distinguishes a "deadly" sin from any other sin. I think its unforgivable (no matter if you ask forgivenss, you stil go to h-e double hockey sticks?)??? If this is the case, where do you draw the line? I think most people have probably poluted at some point in their life, have we all commited deadly sins? Or is it just large scale polution (ie, a company or corporation)?

And what exactly qualifies as "Causing social injustice"? If you do nothing to cause it but stand by and do nothing to stop it, did you commit a deadly sin?

Traditionally (dogmatically?) The Catholic Church split it's sins into two main categories: Mortal (deadly, h-e-double-hockysticks in a handbasket sort of sins) and Venial (you stole a York Peppermint Patty from the gas station when you were 3 and asked forgiveness for it later sort of sins). The deadlies were always viewed as the worst-of-the-worst. Which is why pollution as a deadly sin kind of disturbs me... should that really be on par with murder? Both affect others...but not to the same degree.

Exactly! And I agree that while its important to take responsibility for the environment (don't litter, recycle, reuse items, etc), I don't think that its on par with murder.

I do as much as possible to be good to the environment, but I know I still pollute. I have a 45 minute commute to work both ways (and there's no way I can afford a hybrid or low emission car right now, nor take public transportation). Am I commiting a deadly sin every morning and afternoon? Or does my polluting not count?

Hmmm...perhaps if we just went to confession... "forgive me father for i have sinned. It's been 8 days since my last confession and I drove to and from work 5 times, drove to the grocery once, and read a fairly enlightening article on the benefits of genetics and cell cloning on treating some forms of cancer..."

grrrr.

(places soap box) How can abortion be a sin but letting children starve and go unwanted not be. Or letting be used as a source of income (welfare, child support and WIC) for those who abuse the system in place to help them. But that I have nor do I plan to get one but i think it should only be a sin should when it falls under the umbrella of the original 7 sins. I know abortion is a VERY touchy subject and to each their own. But it was just on the news a month ago about a drunk mother passed out on her 2 year old and killed him. The death of a child is always sad be it 2 or 0. So to say Abortion is a sin is singling it out - I think it should be killing any child either by carelessness or on purpose. Just my 2 cent though.

On the standing by and doing nothing to stop it...according to Dante (who, understandably is just a literary interpreter, but does give us an idea of how the sins may have been viewed "back then"), that does qualify as a sin. Of course Dante also puts sins that require thought and premeditation, including white collar crimes like forgery and embezzlement, in a lower level than sins of passion.

What I want to know is which specific scientific experiments are immoral and who decides what those are?

Glad to see so much discussion. Anything to renew our sense of awareness outside of self and our impact on the world is a breath of fresh air. Bravo for clarifying the churches view. Disappointed some points seem very closed minded.

I love obscene riches. Do they put a number on that? Like, can you have a penny over a certian amount and then be sinning?

There's a lot to be said for hoarding too much wealth when there are so many out there suffering from lack of resources that can be so easily bought by most of us. But to make it a deadly sin? I think most Americans are far more wealthy then they need to be, they just raise their standard of living too high. No one needs half the things we own and yet we strive to own more. Pay raise? Buy a bigger house. Bonus? Buy a new car. I don't think wealth is something that should be a sin, but I think people of faith need to be more aware of what they have and how they're using their resources. Same thing with recycling/pollution.

Just my thoughts.

I agree with your point of view on both of those sins. And my guess is that's the point of adding them to the deadly sins... to make people more aware, to make them think twice about what they are doing.

Its important to do your part towards the environment... some things just can't be helped though (long commute was my earlier example). Though I don't have a choice about that, I do carpool... so at least I'm aware and trying I guess. And if you do have "obscene riches" or even enough to be comfortable on, then make sure you do your part to give back when you can. And to me these aren't things I'm doing as a way to not commit deadly sins and save my soul... these are things I already do and will continue to do because I believe its my job as a responsible person who cares about others.

I was raised catholic, but I am no longer practicing... I do think that the catholic church (like most other religions) does have a lot of good ideas, some were just lost in translation along the way.