Talking Point: Modern Deadly Sins
Created | Updated Mar 18, 2008
Few of us can reel off all the Seven Deadly Sins with any accuracy. As with the names of the seven dwarfs, you can remember about five of them instantly, and the last two will completely stump you. The Seven Deadly Sins are: Pride, Anger, Lust, Covetousness, Gluttony, Envy, Sloth. (And so you're not left hanging, the seven dwarfs are Dopey, Doc, Sneezy, Sleepy, Happy, Bashful, Grumpy.)
Now the Vatican has added seven new mortal sins for the modern age. While the medieval sins still stand, the faithful now need to be on guard against polluting the environment, genetic manipulation, accumulating excessive wealth, inflicting poverty, drug trafficking and consumption, being part of morally debatable experiments, and violating fundamental rights of human nature.
Leaving weighty discussions of religion aside, we'd welcome your views on modern-day misdeeds that are so maddening, they could be classed as evil. If it were up to you, what would you name as modern-day sins?
Are there any 'sins' associated with mobile phones?
What about discussion boards or instant messaging?
Can forgetting to take reusable bags to the supermarket be classed as a sin (Sloth)?What about the recent statistic that people in the UK throw away 1/3 of the food they buy (Gluttony)?
Is reality TV a modern-day vice (Pride)?
What about social networking (Pride, Envy and, in some cases, Lust)?