Do you sin? We all do, but some sins are more popular than others. Some sins are more deadly than others. In the tapestry of behavior, the concept of the Seven Deadly Sins has fascinated people for centuries. Deep ingrained in our nature, these vices often tempt us towards decline. Let's join together as we dive into the shadows and shed light on these sins that have captivated minds throughout history. According to an article from News and Reporting, March 28, 2008, 2 out of 3 Americans admit to being a sinner (67%), according to Lifeway Research. The rest don’t see themselves as sinners (8%), don’t think sin exists (10%), or prefer not to answer the question (15%). Whatever terms you use, sin or its cultural equivalent causes us to lose or lessen our spiritual connection to God and those around us. In the fourth century, a Christian monk named Evagrius Ponticus wrote down what’s known as the “eight evil thoughts”: gluttony, lust, avarice, anger, sloth, sadness, vainglory, and pride. Fast forward to the 13th century, when theologian Thomas Aquinas again revisited the list in Summa Theologica (“Summary of Theology”). In his list, he brought back “sloth” and eliminated “sadness.” Like Gregory, Aquinas described “pride” as the overarching ruler of the seven sins. The Catechism of the Catholic Church’s current capital sins is the same as Aquinas’, except that “pride” replaces “vainglory.” According to an article by Becky Little of the History Channel in August 2021. Lust Is a craving for pleasure that can consume a person entirely and blur moral boundaries. We can observe examples of lust in actions such as tempting infidelity, objectifying others, or indulging excessively in desires. Finding a balance and channeling this energy in consensual ways is crucial. Lust is not limited to sexual desires; sometimes, sex has nothing to do with the strong desire to gratify the senses. This opens up the understanding of what the sin of lust can be. As with all sins, lust begins as an overwhelming desire for something. The thought can turn into a relentless urge to acquire or have something. We can lust after anything we can imagine, sense, or desire. Money and power are probably the two biggest objects of the desire of lust. Gluttony is a sin associated with consumption. It manifests when we devour quantities of food without considering our body's nourishment needs or engage in materialism by accumulating possessions beyond what is necessary. The remedy for this ending cycle lies in finding contentment and appreciating the value of having enough. To be certain, God made us to want more. The body constantly needs more air, food, sunlight, and whatever keeps us going. The body also has a threshold for enough. We pass the threshold when we no longer care for body, mind, and soul, accumulating, acquiring, and accessing everything we can. Gluttony is a world without limits or restraints. It is a self-feeding piranha that has no thought of restricting its consumption. Greed compels individuals towards a desire for wealth and power. We can observe these behaviors in actions such as hoarding resources, exploiting others for gain, and engaging in business practices. To overcome greed, we need to recognize the value of generosity and compassion and understand that true wealth goes beyond possessions. Greed also takes us out of the role of steward into that of owner. We are on this planet to care for it as a part of God’s glorious creation. Greed shifts our focus from the God-given role of a spiritual caretaker to that of a self-imposed landowner. We desire to have and not to provide care. Sloth is characterized by laziness, apathy, and a lack of motivation. This sin often holds individuals back from reaching their potential. Procrastination, neglect of responsibilities, and resistance to growth are all signs of slothfulness. Overcoming sloth requires cultivating discipline, setting goals, and finding sources of inspiration to fuel actions. There is a fine line between a human being and a human doing. Human doings tend to be workaholics, while just focusing on the state of being loses our life purpose. We are not here to take up space and use oxygen. Sloth is a lack of focus for any purpose for existence and even less regard for our calling to serve God and the children of God. Wrath is an uncontrollable anger that leads to behavior and harms oneself and others. It can be witnessed in acts of violence, seeking revenge, and holding onto grudges. Developing intelligence, practicing empathy, and engaging in conflict resolution are important steps toward overcoming the negative impact of wrath. Anger is one of our complex emotions and has its purpose in the flight or flight response to danger. Anger unfettered will soon consume the human spirit of the angry person and perhaps those around them. Anger can be so intense that it overrides our other feelings and emotions; it also destroys our spiritual life by clouding our connection to God and the world around us. Envy arises when one desires another person's qualities, possessions, or status. It fuels feelings of resentment that lead to bitterness and discontentment. The culture of comparison driven by media often amplifies envy in today's society. Counteracting envy requires fostering a mindset of gratitude where we appreciate ourselves and others without comparing ourselves to them. It is difficult not to compare ourselves to others, but we must also learn to be thankful for who we are as unique individuals in God's creation. If we are unsatisfied with how we are, we can learn to improve ourselves, striving to become a better version of who we are. Envy denies the blessings from God that fall directly on our lives. Pride is often regarded as the foundation of vices; pride is characterized by an excessive belief in one's own importance, superiority, and self-esteem. It prevents individuals from recognizing their flaws and obstructs personal development. Overcoming pride requires embracing humility, appreciating perspectives, and engaging in self-reflection. Where envy fails to recognize God’s work in us through the desire to be or have what others possess through envy, pride fails to recognize that God has a role in our lives and achievements. In God's eyes, we are all people of great worth; pride elevates that worth to an exaggerated self-worth. The Seven Deadly Sins is a timeless reminder of humanity's ability to display virtue and vice. By acknowledging these inclinations within ourselves, we empower ourselves to break free from their hold and pursue a path of growth and moral enlightenment. Sin separates us from God and distorts our role in the community of faithful believers.