" Seven Deadly Sins according to the Old Wives"

     The "Seven Deadly Sins" are said to be; Wrath, Greed, Sloth, Pride, Lust, Envy, Gluttony. Over the centuries the list has varied with, and due to societies whims, they are often divided in to separate lists of major and minor ones. I see no such "scoring" system in any doctrine of any major religion. When I see or hear people making distinctions about someones "character" and classifying them by what "sins" they have observed that person to have, two things come to my mind; First- "Judge not lest ye be judged", and Secondly- I have yet to find a list in any "Holy" book delineating a "point system".
     Society does however see particular behaviors as more grievous than others. The seriousness is determined by the culture in which we live, while some cultures adhere very strictly to the "eye for an eye" system of judgment it seems that western society is doing all it can to insure that the punishment seldom fits the crime.
     Their are thousands of books written regarding political and social issues about which we are most concerned today. I am unsure why we continue to "beat the dead horse" of attempt to "re-invent the wheel", the answers to these problems have been available since time began. I think our reasons for not applying them are many, but the two primary ones in my opinion are- Trying to find the easy way out and a lack of personal responsibility.
     If we simply consider the SDS [seven deadly sins] and their effect we could save a lot of debate and discussion and save a lot of trees by making all these "help" books unnecessary.
WRATH- Strong vengeful anger or indignation- WOW, How many serious problems would be solved in the world today if we could exercise a little self control, be less sensitive, "let bygone's be bygone's", cease demanding "our pound of flesh" and quit demanding and dictating political correctness. In its purest form, presents with self-destructiveness, violence, and hate that may provoke feuds that can go on for centuries. Even Suicide which if we are to believe what we read and hear is almost epidemic among some groups This final solution, at it's root, is anger at one's self. Anger Management courses and programs are money makers for those who teach them and are a big part of today's justice system and counseling programs.

Over the next few days we will examine the other six "Deadly Sins" we will see how they interconnect and look at their counter parts or opposites and see if we can learn and then share with others that the answers are already available.

"ONE STARFISH AT A TIME"- that story next time. Keep on commin' back.