About Sins and Virtues

As it is, every one person has at least one of the seven sins on their name, and one of the seven virtues. It’s a yin and yang thing, as Kamelot puts so eloquently, we are “good and evil combined”. However, just like with moral alignment, this is much better employed for fictional character development opposed to actual character development, of real persons - the human psyche holds too many variables to be held to things as simple as these*.

* this does not hold true for the enneagram and the jung theories, as these are actual personality theories, specifically made to be employed on real persons, which automatically also makes it a perfect tool for fictional persons.

pride

Pride is identified as a desire to be more important or attractive than others, failing to acknowledge the good work of others, and excessive love of self. Love of self perverted to hatred and contempt for one’s neighbour.

humility

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less. A hermeneutic of suspicion toward yourself and charity toward people you disagree with. The courage of the heart necessary to undertake tasks which are difficult, tedious or unglamorous, and to graciously accept the sacrifices involved.

greed

Disloyalty, deliberate betrayal, or treason, especially for personal gain, for example through bribery. Scavenging and hoarding of materials or objects, theft and robbery, especially by means of violence, trickery, or manipulation of authority are all actions that may be inspired by greed.

charity

Love, in the sense of an unlimited loving kindness towards all others, it is said to both glorify and reflect the nature of humanity. Such love is self-sacrificial. Generosity, charity, self-sacrifice; the term should not be confused with the more restricted modern use of the word charity to mean benevolent giving.

wrath

Wrath may be described as inordinate and uncontrolled feelings of hatred and anger. Wrath, in its purest form, presents with self-destructiveness, violence, and hate that may provoke feuds that can go on for centuries. Feelings of anger can manifest in different ways, including impatience, revenge, and vigilantism.

patience

Forbearance and endurance through moderation. Resolving conflicts and injustice peacefully, as opposed to resorting to violence. Creating a sense of peaceful stability and community, rather than engendering suffering, hostility and antagonism.

gluttony

Gluttony is the over-indulgence and over-consumption of anything to the point of waste. It is considered a sin because of the excessive desire for food or its withholding from the needy. It could also include an obsessive anticipation of meals, and the constant eating of delicacies and excessively costly foods.

temperance

Restraint, temperance, justice. Constant mindfulness of others and one’s surroundings; practicing self-control, abstention, moderation, zero-sum and deferred gratification. Prudence to judge between actions with regard to appropriate actions at a given time.

envy

Like greed, envy may be characterised by an insatiable desire. It’s a desire to deprive other men of theirs. The punishment for the envious is to have their eyes sewn shut with wire because they have gained sinful pleasure from seeing others brought low.