Have you ever stopped to think about why there is sin, why people are cruel or greedy or hurtful in any way? I think it’s because we are human, and because we are animals. I remember someone who had vehemently denied being an animal, so I asked her if she was a mineral or vegetable instead.

It is hard for some of us to admit that we are, at the core, animals. And as animals it is our natural instinct to survive. But it is also human to be docile animals, hyper animals, or predators.

I was looking again at the seven deadly sins and thought about their extremity. We are all guilty of feeling or demonstrating these sins in some way.

ENVY, the desire to have a quality, possession, or other desirable attribute belonging to someone else. I know that children and adults have at one time or another wanted what someone else had. It is demonstrated every day by the populated malls and car dealerships, and by the trends that catch on so quickly by everyone wanting the same island in their kitchen or the same overpriced designer bag, and by the way others are mimicked.

GLUTTONY is excessive consumption, particularly when it comes to food. This is demonstrated by the existence of so many obese people in this country alone. There was a mother in front of me in a line at the grocery store who had placed snacks, large packages of meat, processed foods, and sugary cereal on the counter. At the end she unpacked some Diet Pepsi. Gluttony is also applicable to anything purchased or practiced in excess, like the purchase of inordinate amounts of shoes, or exercising too much.

GREED is an intense and selfish desire for wealth, power, or food. I think the term avarice is more suitable because it conveys the strength of these desires. This is such a dangerous sin because it usually results in taking that hurts or even kills others, and there are numerous examples of this.

LUST is a very strong desire for something (usually sex). Sometimes I don’t consider this a sin because it is part of our animalism – we were born to procreate and copulate. It only becomes sinful if it is done to someone vulnerable, if it used as a weapon, or if it violates in any way.

PRIDE is the consciousness of one’s own dignity or feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction of one’s own achievements or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired. Another semi-sin in my view. There is nothing wrong with having pride in something or someone. I know that I am very proud of my children’s and grandchildren’s achievements. It only hurts when there is a dependency or stubbornness attached that either makes you hesitant about your own actions or stops you from accepting the help or gratitude of others.

SLOTH is laziness. There is no way around this one. But there are days when we want to do NOTHING because we have earned it. If rest and relaxation are not earned, however, and not doing anything on a continuous basis is the norm for you, then there is a problem.

WRATH is extreme anger. One thing about anger is that it should be unleashed because it is necessary. It just doesn’t necessarily have to be coupled with violence (unless your life is in danger) or verbal abuse (unless it is warranted).

Put bluntly, it is normal to be human and to touch on these sins because we are human. But it is deadly when any of them are excessive.