G.K. Chesterton - The Seven Deadly Sins, Part 2

Dale Ahlquist presents Chesterton's take on the seven deadly sins. Part 1 covers pride, avarice and envy; part 2 deals with anger, gluttony, lust and sloth. Chesterton notes that, "The evils of civilization are mainly due to sin and should be corrected with a sense of sin." Ahlquist explains that the sins are not actions but more like expressions of character which move us to act. In the modern world there is no dispute about evil's existence, just about its definition. Instead of recognizing sin and seeking to overcome it, we redefine it as virtue to excuse our behavior, after first having failed to recognize real virtue. Ahlquist believes the Catholic Church alone points out sin. I would differ with his 'Catholic' designation and view the Church more broadly. Yet the church is the only place truth is recognized and sin named as evil. In losing the conviction of sin, modern society also has lost the ability to confess and repent. We can't remove corruption if we insist that the character traits which promote it aren't vices to be repented of and forsaken. Failure to recognize them as evil brings destruction; hence the term 'deadly.' We're deceived in believing sin will give us freedom & bring us joy. We must see these sins as sins, examine our lives for evidence of them and make choices which diminish their power. Pride is the chief vice, denying sin and insulting God by inflating the self. It inflames the other sins and glorifies personality, not truth. Like all sin, it is embraced willingly & overcome only by personal responsibility. With our free will we choose obedience or rebellion. Happiness is a choice resulting from obedience, a lesson once taught by fairy tales but now dismissed as archaic. Instead we redefine avarice as the drive to succeed, anger as self-assertiveness, and lust as gay pride, disregarding God and His moral laws. The result is general unhappiness. We fail to recognize that virtues like kindness and contentment counter vices. Chesterton observes that, "Thanks is the highest form of thought." But society today is demanding, not thankful, seeing all things, even vices, as rights. Therein lies the roots of its unhappiness and the seeds of its destruction.

[@davidperi2646]

21 min...I like what Chesterton said about suicide, ´a refusal to take an interest in existence...a refusal to take the act of loyalty to life`....the country I live in had the highest suicide rates in the world 20 years ago. I was shocked by this by the attitudes of some relatives of the one who committed suicide, "that was his/her business".

[@andrewrsanchez]

Chesterton was a true poet.

[@peterjohnvallejos7718]

Thank God we have been given wise men so that we can reflect, be instructed and/or realize important matters by simply using the wit of common sense

[@felipearaujo3937]

Might we say gluttony is a product of sloth? See, If i'm spiritually empty and sad then I eat or drink so much, then I'm also a slothful, because I have sloth of to seek God to fulfil me.

[@toprightchannel3080]

Yes. It helps to look at all seven together because they feed into each other so much. The concept of "seven deadly sins" is more illuminating then looking at each one independently.

[@DonSanchoPanza]

How coward have to be someone in order to condemn suicide. Like taking advantage that a man is down so that you can kick him without fear of retaliation.

[@shadow9495]

Petre Catalin Logofatu I pity people who have committed suicide however murder is still wrong even if the person you murder is yourself

[@Gargantupimp]

How cowardly not to condemn suicide, or any sin! "Love the sinner hate the sin." It's impossible to love the sinner unless you hate his sin. Sin is disease. Can you love a diseased man unless you want him to be cured?

[@DonSanchoPanza]

@@Gargantupimp Suffering is not a sin. Perhaps one suffers because of his sins, but suffering in itself is not a sin.

[@Gargantupimp]

@@DonSanchoPanza You're right. I also think if we don't rebuke wicked ideas, for example the idea that suicide is often the right choice, then sin and suffering will be increased in our own lives and the world.

[@DonSanchoPanza]

@@Gargantupimp Who says suicide is the right choice? Maybe a few excentrics who do not have the slightest intention to commit suicide. But there is an army of busybodies eager to throw stones at desperate and lonely people.

[@8jcm4]

That's what'm talkin' 'bout

[@grdnzrnic]

I would have liked to have heard more references from the Bible ... there weren't any ... and because of that this piece comes across more philosophically than theologically.

[@anthonyp4561]

You've posted this comment on several Chesterton pieces. Theology is simply religion-focused philosophy. It can but doesn't have to include a lot of actually direct religious references. Keep in mind that for non-believers or those on the belief-fence many scriptural quotes won't change minds. Logic might though.

[@nowvoyagerNE]

Catholics don't "do" the Bible. They have study guides on all the rituals needed in order to be a Catholic.

[@mattsharkey8437]

@@nowvoyagerNE we celebrate the Bible at every Mass.

[@Nick-qf7vt]

@@nowvoyagerNE No, Catholics just don't worship the Bible. Worship is for God.

[@beckymarshall3690]

I hated every moment of both parts 1 and ... I only had to watch this for religion class but wished I never did!!

[@Misael-Hernandez]

anger

[@nowvoyagerNE]

Assertiveness. 😉