2008 Woodie Awards
By Lauren Kawam
Issue date: 3/20/08 Section: Daily Buzz
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What I do not understand about many of religion's foundational philosophies, though, is the feelings of fear that their patrons are meant to feel on a regular basis.
When I learned recently that The Vatican has compiled a list of seven deadly social sins, I almost fell off my rolly chair while I was sitting at the computer. See the list here.
It's been 1,500 years since the Roman Catholic Church introduced the original list of seven deadly sins: greed, gluttony, pride, sloth, envy, lust and anger.
Vatican officials said it was time for an update.
The Church said that the new list doesn't reflect a change in official doctrine and that this expansion was "brought on by technology and science" (read more on CNN), and it aligns with the Pope's emphasis on communal, rather than individual, piety.
My initial thought was: how do they claim to have the right to deem what is socially "right" and "wrong"? There's only so far the "God told us" line can go. Then, I was troubled by the realization that many people will be feeling a higher level of guilt as a result.
As I got to thinking about it some more and examined the list, I was the most appalled by the number of people who will "go to hell," for committing one of these newly scribed "social sins."
In an interview on March 9 with The Vatican's official newspaper, Bishop Gianfranco Girotti - the guy in charge of confessions and who had a hand in this decision - said that people offend God in numerous ways, hence the reason for the new list of sinful acts. "You offend God not only by stealing, taking the Lord's name in vain or coveting your neighbor's wife, but also by wrecking the environment and carrying out morally debatable experiments that manipulate DNA or harm embryos," Girotti said.
He explained that pollution and genetic engineering, as well as birth control and extreme wealth are now on record as mortal sins, which are defined as by the Church as most offensive to God and could land you a spot in hell without a chance for atonement.
I'd like to ask the church for additional updates. Why is everyone advocating for an update on sinful acts and not on revisiting the way staff are hired or for a reexamination of the views on women?
Ultimately, I think people should not worry about being sinners. They should instead worry about being good humans and doing good things for other humans. Plain and simple.
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