The Seven Great Virtues
vs.
the Seven Deadly Sins
"
Pride is more than the first of the seven deadly sins,
it is, itself, the essence of all sin."
- John Stott
Pride is more than the first of the seven deadly sins,
it is, itself, the essence of all sin."
- John Stott
Did you ever see a person spiral downhill at an alarming pace? Did you ever see that person, perhaps a family friend, and wonder "Where did it all start? Where did he/she go wrong?" Well according to both philosophers and theologians, it may have started when they were young, and when, as youth, they gave in to certain "vices" that led to habits, then obsessions, and eventually into sin.
The fact is that sin in any form - not just the mortal or serious sin (which is a grave offense to God and to our brothers and sisters), but any sin large or small, a sin of omission or a sin of commission, a sin in thought, word or deed - any sin is an offense to God.
The way satan gets us to sin, of course, is through “temptation.” It is very easy to tempt people. Just find their greatest “weak spots,” their vulnerabilities. Usually the basis of these are in one's hedonistic tendencies, i.e., one's desires for pleasures. Jesus, Himself, was tempted by satan three times in very powerful ways for food, power, glory and honor, and riches. But Jesus knew satan and understood the evil of sin, and if there is one theme throughout the new testament of the bible it is that Jesus warned time and again to be cautious of the evil one and the temptations of sin.
Sin causes one to act in a manner that is anti-Christ like: dark, decadent, somewhat perverted in values, amoral, and evil.
As one looks around today, one will see that throughout America there is a overabundance of amoral movies, pornography on the Internet, degradation in modern art, profanity in music, vulgarity in comedy, eroticism at all levels, perversion of the systems of justice, racism, abortion, a large underground drug culture, institutionalized greed and fraud, crime and violence, euthanasia, etc. Culture today is best characterized by “idolatry,” i.e., where there is a tendency to worship everything materialistic or pleasurable over God. And of course, man is still rebellious. Man does not want to worship God, man wants to be God. Man remains rebellious, self-centered and angry, doing whatever one pleases despite the consequences, and youth especially, today, have hardened hearts.
The Seven Deadly Sins
The worst of these sins are known as the Seven Deadly Sins. The seven deadly sins are a group of vices that while sinful in-and-of themselves, may give way to even other sins and immoralities. One major problem for people is that these sins may seem to be normal, almost innocuous attributes. But the fact is that by their intrinsic nature they may be evil thoughts or temptations that need to be overcome to stop one's inclination towards evil especially before such vices lead into misdeeds.
In Roman Catholicism, Pope Gregory defined the seven deadly sins that one should avoid. They include Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride. While theologians and psychologists have debated which is the worst of the sins, many agree that alone or together they pose an inherent danger in the well-being and welfare of people and of a civilized society.
Lust: The first Deadly Sin is Lust. Lust is an insatiable need for sex or things of a sexual nature. This includes thoughts, desires, and actions. If left unfilled, lust can lead to fornication, adultery, masturbation, rape, and even beastiality. Lust, itself, is heightened by any of the aformentioned means and is especially heightened by viewing pornography. It can also be an intense longing for money, power or other things. Lust leads to "sins of the flesh."
Gluttony: Second, the over-indulgence or over-consumption of anything to the point of waste or of anything to the extreme, is a sin of gluttony. Most usually this highlights gorging or binging on food or drink, especially on alcohol. Today it may also include drug abuse. Gluttony refers to an over-anticipation with such things. It can mean eating impulsively and binge eating or gorging, or drinking or using drugs to the point of intoxication, or even collecting or hording material objects needed by others.
Greed: Greed is the need for wealth or for material possessions, with an emphasis on need. If this need is unfed, a Greedy person may even resort to crime such as theft, robbery, or violence, or by obtaining a material possession by means of cheating, deception, or manipulation. It may reach the point where greedy people are more easy to bribe, or will take any bet or do anything for a dollar. While greed is often stereotypically thought to be limited to the poor or disenfranchised, in reality it is perhaps more often seen in those who have much, yet, want more. It has been well known that many lawyers will overcharge clients, banks charge exorbitantly high interest rates, pharmaceutical companies inflate the costs of medicines, politicians use pay-to-play schemes, and finance advisors charge hidden load fees.
Sloth: Sloth is defined as an absence of interest or habitual disinclination to exertion, in other words a general "laziness." It can be toward work or toward life. It is having an indifference to chores, errands or work responsibilities, a passiveness or apathy or being bored with even the idea of work. As a result, these people often become idle, and often show sadness, depression, or an inability to feel joy. There is some question too, as if sloth is a block to happiness and ultimately a contributor to suicidal ideation. The saying, "Idleness is the devil's workshop" fits here; it is the result of the habit of sloth. When you let idleness replace industry, you allow temptation for sin to set in. Most people really can resist temptation, but most usually it is in the short term. The real power behind temptation is time, and those with too much time on their hands get into a lot more trouble than those involved in work, goals and time consuming obligations.
Wrath: Wrath is an extreme anger, rage, hatred, or a need for vengeance or revenge. People who feel wrath issues or have a wrath-like attitude, can have them to levels which are uncontrolled and can easily act out their feelings in emotional and physically abusive or violent ways. They feel the need to do harm to others, and often, that feeling is in a self-righteous manner, or is a feeling that it is justice, i.e., "an eye for an eye." Wrath has led to the creation of feuds, some of which have lasted a hundred years. Wrath, ultimately, may even include murder or genocide. Again, many people get angry but when it is long, strong, or unchecked it can lead into wrath which most certainly harms self and others.
Envy: Envy, also, rises to the degree of an insatiable desire. It is to covet or is a need to have better or be better than others, or to possess their goods or traits. Envy is thought to be a serious sin and behind many types of crime, such that two of the Ten Commandments speak to it, "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife" and "Thou shalt not covet they neighbor's goods."
Like many of the other deadly sins, occasionally wanting what others have for yourself is not unnatural, but allowing it to grow so it becomes a continual obsession that you need to feed or that it overtakes your daily thoughts is an injustice to all.
Pride: Pride is vanity, it is being proud of yourself and your attributes and accomplishments but in an excessive way. It is an excessive belief in one's own abilities and attributes independent from God or others. It is one of the most serious of the deadly sins. Many believe that pride is the basis of all sin. Lucifer's fall from heaven was because of pride, and man's fall from Paradise was, again, due to pride.
Pride is a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, and having a self-satisfaction in having attributes and possessions highly admired and respected by others. Pride was once considered a need to be the best or the most beautiful, but it can also mean having a need for public admiration in all acts and aspects. Pride can also be a need to be more important than others.
Those who suffer from excessive Pride often have narcissistic issues and unrealistic views of themselves or others. Usually they fail to see the achievements or others and fail to give due compliments to others, but instead fish for compliments for themselves. They tend to treat others as second class, or in a derogatory manner.
True pride is said to be the original and most deadly of the seven sins. It can be a dangerously corrupt selfishness, the putting of one's own desires, urges, wants, and whims before the welfare of people. It has been said that the heart of a proud man can be wicked and evil, and ultimately do dishonor or injustice. It is very easy to become prideful, for, "There is no passion that steals into the heart more imperceptibly and covers itself under more disguises than pride." It is best to always remember the proverb, "Pride goeth (goes) before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." All men with excessive pride, fall.
The Seven deadly sins are considered serious by every mainstream religion. As it says in the Bible, "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, and a false witness [that] speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren" (Proverbs 6: 16-19.)
The Seven Great Virtues
The Seven Great Virtues are specific opposites to the Seven Deadly Sins. They are a mix of Greek philosophy and Christian virtue. Alone, but especially in combination, they form a barrier, a protection against the temptations and evils of the seven deadly sins. The virtues include: Humility (which protects against pride), Kindness (which protects against envy), Temperance (protects against gluttony), Chastity (protects against lust), Patience (protects against anger), Charity (protects against greed), and Diligence (protects against sloth.)
A virtue is a conscious and habitual spirit to do the good. With conscious practice it becomes second nature. A virtue allows a person not only to perform a good act, but to give the best he or she has. The virtuous person pursues the good and chooses it in everyday actions. A virtuous person tries to be honorable, just, and pure. One never achieves virtuous perfection of course for we are human, yet, for those who strive to be virtuous people they are first and foremost everyday occurrences.
The Seven Heavenly Virtues are: Chastity, Temperance, Charity, Diligence, Patience, Kindness, and Humility.
Chastity: Chastity is "purity." It is the counter-virtue to the sin of lust. Chastity embraces moral wholesomeness and purity in both thought and action, and treats God’s gift of sexuality with due reverence and respect. It is discretion of sexual conduct according to one's state in life; and the practice of a higher form of love. But chastity is more than just abstinence from sexual thoughts and actions, it is a moral wholesomeness and it strives to continue achieving purity through cultivated health and hygiene, refraining from intoxicants, and courageously embracing moral wholesomeness and achieving purity of thought in all things through education and self-betterment.
Temperance: The virtue of temperance counters the sin of gluttony. To be gluttonous is to over-indulge. On the opposite hand, the virtue of temperance is centered on self-control and moderation - moderation in food and beverage and moderation in all things. Constant mindfulness of yourself and one's surroundings and the practice of self-control, abstinence and deferred gratification helps one not just to avoid sin, but to formulate practices for the greater good - for justice, humanity, and the rights and needs of others.
Charity: Charity, or generosity, is the virtue that is counter to greed (the sin of immoderate desire for earthly things), and a virtue that helps protect against greed. Charity is a willingness to give freely, it is a benevolent, generous sacrifice. It is a giving of one's time, talent, work or money for the benefit of another, and without thought of recompense for oneself. In Christian theology there is a second definition for charity, charity is love (agape love) - the greatest of the three theological virtues. In this respect, the practice of charity is an unlimited, loving kindness toward all others.
Diligence: Diligence, or persistence, is the virtue which acts as a counter to the sin of sloth. Diligence is making a concerted effort, having fortitude, and putting time, energy and thought into your work and faith. It is having a decisive work ethic, and one which guards against laziness be it in your studies, work life, home, or family life. It also means monitoring your time and activities to guard against laziness, and having the belief and capability of not giving up when things get difficult. Sloth, as a capital sin, refers to laziness in all matters, but especially in matters of Faith. Diligence in matters of the spirit, combats laziness and this virtue is manifest in appropriately passionate attitudes toward living your faith fully and sharing that faith with friends and family.
Patience: Patience is having an endurance and a serenity for the tasks at hand. It is a quiet strength, the virtue needed to address and counter the sin of wrath or rage. Where the sin of wrath is about a quick temper and unnecessary vengeance, the virtue of patience and meekness focuses on quietly seeking appropriate resolution to the conflict(s), and it also denotes an ability to forgive and to show mercy. It helps give an ability to resolving conflicts peacefully as opposed to resorting to violence. With patience one can reach compromise easier, show mercy easier, show stability and harmony easier, and more easily retain dignity.
Kindness: Kindness is having a pleasant disposition and a concern and compassion for others. It is showing brotherly love for one’s neighbor. Kindness is the virtue which counters the sin of envy. Envy shows a discord and distress over the good fortune of another person. Conversely, kindness is manifest in having an unprejudiced, compassionate and charitable concern for others. Mark Twain once said that, "Kindness is the language that the deaf hear and the blind can see." It has been said that kindness is the herb that best heals the maladies of man. Kindness is showing empathy, showing a cheerful disposition for the sake of others, showing compassion and friendship, and the practice of kindness inspires kindness in others.
Humility: Humility is the virtue that counters pride. As pride leads to other sin, true humility clears a path for holiness. Pride is a sin based on undue and inappropriate appreciation of one’s self-worth. Conversely, the virtue of humility is about modest behavior, selflessness and the giving of respect to others. It is a selfless act, one which recognizes the value and worth of others above and beyond our own. "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less", said C.S. Lewis.
Humility gives credit to the work and lives of others. It leads to treating people you disagree with in a charitable fashion. It is having a special reverence for others and treating them with a great respect. Humility is the solid foundation of all virtue, it is the foundation by which true love manifests. Remember what St. Augustine said, "It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels."
Choose to be Virtuous over Sinful
The Seven Deadly Sins are vices that have destroyed - and continues to destroy many men and many families. The remedy for these plagues are the Seven Heavenly Virtues. These virtues help nullify sin and help counter temptation and vice. They protect individuals from entry into sin and helps people and all of society into a more pure and moral life.
The fact is that sin in any form - not just the mortal or serious sin (which is a grave offense to God and to our brothers and sisters), but any sin large or small, a sin of omission or a sin of commission, a sin in thought, word or deed - any sin is an offense to God.
The way satan gets us to sin, of course, is through “temptation.” It is very easy to tempt people. Just find their greatest “weak spots,” their vulnerabilities. Usually the basis of these are in one's hedonistic tendencies, i.e., one's desires for pleasures. Jesus, Himself, was tempted by satan three times in very powerful ways for food, power, glory and honor, and riches. But Jesus knew satan and understood the evil of sin, and if there is one theme throughout the new testament of the bible it is that Jesus warned time and again to be cautious of the evil one and the temptations of sin.
Sin causes one to act in a manner that is anti-Christ like: dark, decadent, somewhat perverted in values, amoral, and evil.
As one looks around today, one will see that throughout America there is a overabundance of amoral movies, pornography on the Internet, degradation in modern art, profanity in music, vulgarity in comedy, eroticism at all levels, perversion of the systems of justice, racism, abortion, a large underground drug culture, institutionalized greed and fraud, crime and violence, euthanasia, etc. Culture today is best characterized by “idolatry,” i.e., where there is a tendency to worship everything materialistic or pleasurable over God. And of course, man is still rebellious. Man does not want to worship God, man wants to be God. Man remains rebellious, self-centered and angry, doing whatever one pleases despite the consequences, and youth especially, today, have hardened hearts.
The Seven Deadly Sins
The worst of these sins are known as the Seven Deadly Sins. The seven deadly sins are a group of vices that while sinful in-and-of themselves, may give way to even other sins and immoralities. One major problem for people is that these sins may seem to be normal, almost innocuous attributes. But the fact is that by their intrinsic nature they may be evil thoughts or temptations that need to be overcome to stop one's inclination towards evil especially before such vices lead into misdeeds.
In Roman Catholicism, Pope Gregory defined the seven deadly sins that one should avoid. They include Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride. While theologians and psychologists have debated which is the worst of the sins, many agree that alone or together they pose an inherent danger in the well-being and welfare of people and of a civilized society.
Lust: The first Deadly Sin is Lust. Lust is an insatiable need for sex or things of a sexual nature. This includes thoughts, desires, and actions. If left unfilled, lust can lead to fornication, adultery, masturbation, rape, and even beastiality. Lust, itself, is heightened by any of the aformentioned means and is especially heightened by viewing pornography. It can also be an intense longing for money, power or other things. Lust leads to "sins of the flesh."
Gluttony: Second, the over-indulgence or over-consumption of anything to the point of waste or of anything to the extreme, is a sin of gluttony. Most usually this highlights gorging or binging on food or drink, especially on alcohol. Today it may also include drug abuse. Gluttony refers to an over-anticipation with such things. It can mean eating impulsively and binge eating or gorging, or drinking or using drugs to the point of intoxication, or even collecting or hording material objects needed by others.
Greed: Greed is the need for wealth or for material possessions, with an emphasis on need. If this need is unfed, a Greedy person may even resort to crime such as theft, robbery, or violence, or by obtaining a material possession by means of cheating, deception, or manipulation. It may reach the point where greedy people are more easy to bribe, or will take any bet or do anything for a dollar. While greed is often stereotypically thought to be limited to the poor or disenfranchised, in reality it is perhaps more often seen in those who have much, yet, want more. It has been well known that many lawyers will overcharge clients, banks charge exorbitantly high interest rates, pharmaceutical companies inflate the costs of medicines, politicians use pay-to-play schemes, and finance advisors charge hidden load fees.
Sloth: Sloth is defined as an absence of interest or habitual disinclination to exertion, in other words a general "laziness." It can be toward work or toward life. It is having an indifference to chores, errands or work responsibilities, a passiveness or apathy or being bored with even the idea of work. As a result, these people often become idle, and often show sadness, depression, or an inability to feel joy. There is some question too, as if sloth is a block to happiness and ultimately a contributor to suicidal ideation. The saying, "Idleness is the devil's workshop" fits here; it is the result of the habit of sloth. When you let idleness replace industry, you allow temptation for sin to set in. Most people really can resist temptation, but most usually it is in the short term. The real power behind temptation is time, and those with too much time on their hands get into a lot more trouble than those involved in work, goals and time consuming obligations.
Wrath: Wrath is an extreme anger, rage, hatred, or a need for vengeance or revenge. People who feel wrath issues or have a wrath-like attitude, can have them to levels which are uncontrolled and can easily act out their feelings in emotional and physically abusive or violent ways. They feel the need to do harm to others, and often, that feeling is in a self-righteous manner, or is a feeling that it is justice, i.e., "an eye for an eye." Wrath has led to the creation of feuds, some of which have lasted a hundred years. Wrath, ultimately, may even include murder or genocide. Again, many people get angry but when it is long, strong, or unchecked it can lead into wrath which most certainly harms self and others.
Envy: Envy, also, rises to the degree of an insatiable desire. It is to covet or is a need to have better or be better than others, or to possess their goods or traits. Envy is thought to be a serious sin and behind many types of crime, such that two of the Ten Commandments speak to it, "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife" and "Thou shalt not covet they neighbor's goods."
Like many of the other deadly sins, occasionally wanting what others have for yourself is not unnatural, but allowing it to grow so it becomes a continual obsession that you need to feed or that it overtakes your daily thoughts is an injustice to all.
Pride: Pride is vanity, it is being proud of yourself and your attributes and accomplishments but in an excessive way. It is an excessive belief in one's own abilities and attributes independent from God or others. It is one of the most serious of the deadly sins. Many believe that pride is the basis of all sin. Lucifer's fall from heaven was because of pride, and man's fall from Paradise was, again, due to pride.
Pride is a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, and having a self-satisfaction in having attributes and possessions highly admired and respected by others. Pride was once considered a need to be the best or the most beautiful, but it can also mean having a need for public admiration in all acts and aspects. Pride can also be a need to be more important than others.
Those who suffer from excessive Pride often have narcissistic issues and unrealistic views of themselves or others. Usually they fail to see the achievements or others and fail to give due compliments to others, but instead fish for compliments for themselves. They tend to treat others as second class, or in a derogatory manner.
True pride is said to be the original and most deadly of the seven sins. It can be a dangerously corrupt selfishness, the putting of one's own desires, urges, wants, and whims before the welfare of people. It has been said that the heart of a proud man can be wicked and evil, and ultimately do dishonor or injustice. It is very easy to become prideful, for, "There is no passion that steals into the heart more imperceptibly and covers itself under more disguises than pride." It is best to always remember the proverb, "Pride goeth (goes) before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." All men with excessive pride, fall.
The Seven deadly sins are considered serious by every mainstream religion. As it says in the Bible, "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, and a false witness [that] speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren" (Proverbs 6: 16-19.)
The Seven Great Virtues
The Seven Great Virtues are specific opposites to the Seven Deadly Sins. They are a mix of Greek philosophy and Christian virtue. Alone, but especially in combination, they form a barrier, a protection against the temptations and evils of the seven deadly sins. The virtues include: Humility (which protects against pride), Kindness (which protects against envy), Temperance (protects against gluttony), Chastity (protects against lust), Patience (protects against anger), Charity (protects against greed), and Diligence (protects against sloth.)
A virtue is a conscious and habitual spirit to do the good. With conscious practice it becomes second nature. A virtue allows a person not only to perform a good act, but to give the best he or she has. The virtuous person pursues the good and chooses it in everyday actions. A virtuous person tries to be honorable, just, and pure. One never achieves virtuous perfection of course for we are human, yet, for those who strive to be virtuous people they are first and foremost everyday occurrences.
The Seven Heavenly Virtues are: Chastity, Temperance, Charity, Diligence, Patience, Kindness, and Humility.
Chastity: Chastity is "purity." It is the counter-virtue to the sin of lust. Chastity embraces moral wholesomeness and purity in both thought and action, and treats God’s gift of sexuality with due reverence and respect. It is discretion of sexual conduct according to one's state in life; and the practice of a higher form of love. But chastity is more than just abstinence from sexual thoughts and actions, it is a moral wholesomeness and it strives to continue achieving purity through cultivated health and hygiene, refraining from intoxicants, and courageously embracing moral wholesomeness and achieving purity of thought in all things through education and self-betterment.
Temperance: The virtue of temperance counters the sin of gluttony. To be gluttonous is to over-indulge. On the opposite hand, the virtue of temperance is centered on self-control and moderation - moderation in food and beverage and moderation in all things. Constant mindfulness of yourself and one's surroundings and the practice of self-control, abstinence and deferred gratification helps one not just to avoid sin, but to formulate practices for the greater good - for justice, humanity, and the rights and needs of others.
Charity: Charity, or generosity, is the virtue that is counter to greed (the sin of immoderate desire for earthly things), and a virtue that helps protect against greed. Charity is a willingness to give freely, it is a benevolent, generous sacrifice. It is a giving of one's time, talent, work or money for the benefit of another, and without thought of recompense for oneself. In Christian theology there is a second definition for charity, charity is love (agape love) - the greatest of the three theological virtues. In this respect, the practice of charity is an unlimited, loving kindness toward all others.
Diligence: Diligence, or persistence, is the virtue which acts as a counter to the sin of sloth. Diligence is making a concerted effort, having fortitude, and putting time, energy and thought into your work and faith. It is having a decisive work ethic, and one which guards against laziness be it in your studies, work life, home, or family life. It also means monitoring your time and activities to guard against laziness, and having the belief and capability of not giving up when things get difficult. Sloth, as a capital sin, refers to laziness in all matters, but especially in matters of Faith. Diligence in matters of the spirit, combats laziness and this virtue is manifest in appropriately passionate attitudes toward living your faith fully and sharing that faith with friends and family.
Patience: Patience is having an endurance and a serenity for the tasks at hand. It is a quiet strength, the virtue needed to address and counter the sin of wrath or rage. Where the sin of wrath is about a quick temper and unnecessary vengeance, the virtue of patience and meekness focuses on quietly seeking appropriate resolution to the conflict(s), and it also denotes an ability to forgive and to show mercy. It helps give an ability to resolving conflicts peacefully as opposed to resorting to violence. With patience one can reach compromise easier, show mercy easier, show stability and harmony easier, and more easily retain dignity.
Kindness: Kindness is having a pleasant disposition and a concern and compassion for others. It is showing brotherly love for one’s neighbor. Kindness is the virtue which counters the sin of envy. Envy shows a discord and distress over the good fortune of another person. Conversely, kindness is manifest in having an unprejudiced, compassionate and charitable concern for others. Mark Twain once said that, "Kindness is the language that the deaf hear and the blind can see." It has been said that kindness is the herb that best heals the maladies of man. Kindness is showing empathy, showing a cheerful disposition for the sake of others, showing compassion and friendship, and the practice of kindness inspires kindness in others.
Humility: Humility is the virtue that counters pride. As pride leads to other sin, true humility clears a path for holiness. Pride is a sin based on undue and inappropriate appreciation of one’s self-worth. Conversely, the virtue of humility is about modest behavior, selflessness and the giving of respect to others. It is a selfless act, one which recognizes the value and worth of others above and beyond our own. "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less", said C.S. Lewis.
Humility gives credit to the work and lives of others. It leads to treating people you disagree with in a charitable fashion. It is having a special reverence for others and treating them with a great respect. Humility is the solid foundation of all virtue, it is the foundation by which true love manifests. Remember what St. Augustine said, "It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels."
Choose to be Virtuous over Sinful
The Seven Deadly Sins are vices that have destroyed - and continues to destroy many men and many families. The remedy for these plagues are the Seven Heavenly Virtues. These virtues help nullify sin and help counter temptation and vice. They protect individuals from entry into sin and helps people and all of society into a more pure and moral life.
