Something I realized about the "7 Deadly Sins" and the "7 Heavenly Virtues"...

[Hexen]

I think I mentioned this before in my posts but has anyone noticed and especially for those who read the Divine Comedy that the "7 Deadly Sins" are mostly traits about people enjoying life while the "7 heavenly virtues" are mostly consists of suffering through life?

One thing I realized that it was actually a tactic used by the Church (or the ruling class at the time) to control people (mostly peasants) that they must suffer here on Earth in order to attain "eternal paradise" but if they enjoyed life (slacking off) they'll "suffer for all eternity".

Has anyone notice this? I think I'm the only person who realizes this because I found no other sources that also points this out (unless I'm wrong).

[Blackscare]

Welcome to Catholicism.

[ʇsıɥɔɹɐuɐ ıɯɐbıɹo]

Life is nasty brutish and short, embracing this ideal will lead you to a greater existence; working hard to reap the rewards is to suffer with minimal gains, but to sit at the computer and jerk off all day means short term pleasure for long term loss.

[ZeroNowhere]

The tyrannical individual is a slave, and any enjoyment they have is ephemeral and relative. It's a question of control. It's not a question of enjoyment or suffering so much as of reason or the appetites.

"It is lust only, Arjuna, which is born of contact with the material mode of passion and later transformed into wrath, and which is the all-devouring sinful enemy of this world."

[ComradeMan]

Have you never thought that life in the Middle-Ages might have been such that it was better to look at suffering as a virtue rather than a curse? I am not saying I agree with this- but you do need to take in material considerations such as the bubonic plague, cholera, leprosy and the marauding whoevers into account too. I wonder how many people actually enjoyed the sweet things of life so much and indeed for many life was brutish and short.

[L.A.P.]

While it is true that a lot of the values of the Church are authoritarian and restrict personal freedom, a lot of them also are good in that they prevent greed and selfishness.

[hatzel]

...I admit I didn't even know there were heavenly virtues :laugh: And I can't remember all of the deadly sins, either, but anyway, I've done a Wikipedia search which suggests that the heavenly virtues are: chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness, humility. Correct me if the heavenly virtues you all have in mind are different from these. Now...I can't actually see how any of those involve 'suffering through life', though perhaps a couple, such as certain elements of chastity (which has a much broader definition than just 'not having sex'), could be considered as restricting personal pleasures. To be honest, though, if patience (forbearance and endurance through moderation. Resolving conflicts and injustice peacefully, as opposed to resorting to violence. The ability to forgive; to show mercy to sinners. Not killing or being violent in any way to any life form or sentient being; to practice moderation of meat consumption and consistent life ethic. Creating a sense of peaceful stability and community, rather than engendering suffering, hostility and antagonism) or kindness (charity, compassion and friendship for its own sake. Empathy and trust without prejudice or resentment. Unconditional love and voluntary kindness without bias or spite. Having positive outlooks and cheerful demeanor; to inspire kindness in others) are considered in your mind to involve 'suffering through life', then I'm sorry, but you're probably a bit of an meanie...:o

[Richard Nixon]

Outside of all moral considerations it should be noted that practicing lust for instance can easily if you live outside the First World give you a nasty case of STD. And some of the sins are more that of bourgeois capitalists (uh greed anyone?) than of any revolutionary.

[ZeroNowhere]

I'm not sure that it makes much sense to speak of the seven deadly sins independent of moral considerations. Likewise, I'm not sure that it makes much sense to speak of actual moral considerations without taking the condemnation of the seven deadly sins as a prerequisite.

[Richard Nixon]

I'm not sure that it makes much sense to speak of the seven deadly sins independent of moral considerations. Likewise, I'm not sure that it makes much sense to speak of actual moral considerations without taking the condemnation of the seven deadly sins as a prerequisite.

I agree but then I didn't want to give a sermon. I was noting how practically not practicing the Seven Deadly Sins would be wise.