Seven Deadly Sins (tradition, homosexuality, sin, Mary, confess)

[Bishka]

Pride, avarice, gluttony, lust, sloth, envy, and anger. What do these have in common? They are the seven deadly sins.

What I would like to know is, how did Saint Gregory the Great come up with these and what is his basis for these? Why are they deadly? Where is the scriptural basis for this?

[James the Persian]

Originally Posted by beckysoup61

Pride, avarice, gluttony, lust, sloth, envy, and anger. What do these have in common? They are the seven deadly sins.

What I would like to know is, how did Saint Gregory the Great come up with these and what is his basis for these? Why are they deadly? Where is the scriptural basis for this?

I wasn't aware that these came from St. Gregory the Great, but it wouldn't be his first error (it is an error in my opinion), just look at his attitude to St. Mary Magdalene. As far as I'm aware not one of these is a sin but, rather, is a passion that can lead to sin. We also have no concept of mortal and venial sin as the RCs do. The only sin that is mortal is the one for which we do not repent.

James

[Bishka]

Originally Posted by JamesThePersian

I wasn't aware that these came from St. Gregory the Great, but it wouldn't be his first error (it is an error in my opinion), just look at his attitude to St. Mary Magdalene. As far as I'm aware not one of these is a sin but, rather, is a passion that can lead to sin. We also have no concept of mortal and venial sin as the RCs do. The only sin that is mortal is the one for which we do not repent.

James

I must confess my naivety, but what was his attitude towards Mary Magdalene? I was always under the impression that these were sins, but how can they not be a sin?

[James the Persian]

Originally Posted by beckysoup61

I must confess my naivety, but what was his attitude towards Mary Magdalene? I was always under the impression that these were sins, but how can they not be a sin?

He is the one who conflated St. Mary Magdalene with the unnamed woman of Scripture leading to the western tradition of viewing her as a prostitute, an attitude to the saint which is practically unheard of in the east.

All of the things described as deadly sins are emotional states aren't they? Motivations to commit sin? That makes them passions, not sins, to use the terminology of the Fathers. As an example, anger is not necessarily sinful. It can be righteous, such as when Christ drove out the money lenders. It is, however, an emotion that can quite easily lead us into violence or some other hateful action. These are the sins. It's rather like when I argue that homosexuality is not a sin, but a passion. Being attracted to your own sex might tempt you into sinful acts but, in itself, it is not a sin.

James