Seven deadly sins

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The seven deadly sins are also known as the capital vices or cardinal sins and function as a grouping and classification of the major vices within Christian teachings.^[1] According to the standard list, the Seven Deadly Sins are pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth: all seven being contraries to the seven heavenly virtues. Generally, in regard to the Seven Deadly Sins, there is a predominate emphasis on idea of an afterlife of the human soul in heaven or hell depending upon an individual human's choices during life. According to belief, the deadly sins tend to be those which lead to a (deadly) afterlife in hell. Over time there has been some variance as to the actual number of deadly sins, however seven has in some traditions become standard.

The classification of deadly sins into a group of seven originated with Tertullian, and continued with Evagrius Ponticus.^[2] The concepts of the sins involved were in part based on Greco-Roman and Biblical antecedents. Later, the concept of seven deadly sins evolved further, based upon historical context based upon the Latin language of the Roman Catholic Church, though with a significant influence from the Greek language and associated religious traditions. Knowledge of the seven deadly sin concept is known through discussions in various treatises and also depictions in paintings and sculpture, for example architectural decorations on certain churches of certain Catholic parishes and also from certain older textbooks.^[1] Further information has been derived from patterns of confessions.

Subsequently, over the centuries into modern times, the idea of sins (especially seven in number) has permutated in various ways into the streams of religious and philosophical thought, fine art painting, and popular culture, including literature and new forms of media such as moving pictures and digital streaming.