Summer Service Series at Channing Church Exploring the Seven Deadly Sins!

This Summer Channing Church is offering a series of services exploring the Seven Deadly Sins. This is an unusual subject for a Unitarian Universalist congregation. As religious liberals, we tend to focus more on the life-affirming values of freedom, reason, and tolerance. This theme was selected as a way for us to consider the relevance of these ancient teachings on our contemporary lives. At Channing Church we are blessed with church members who enjoy delving into meaningful subjects. The speakers in this series have unique insights to share from their own experience.

What are the Seven Deadly Sins? Early Christian teachings categorized human vices. The following sins were considered to cause eternal damnation unless the sinner confessed and sought forgiveness: Pride, Envy, Wrath, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, and Sloth.

Through out our lives and through the course of our days we are visited by these impulses. When we are not mindful they step in to govern our thoughts, words and actions.

The Seven Deadly Sins are illustrations of the perils of excess. There are many works of art that show grotesque characters as the epitome of each sin. Often they have exaggerated facial features and bawdy postures. In the Middle Ages, the Seven were featured in religious dramas that enacted conflicts between vices and virtues.

The Seven Deadly Sins are not just a quaint relic of the past. Think for a moment about modern entertainment. Certainly the popular television series “The Sopranos” had its share of Pride, Envy, Anger, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, and Sloth. Perhaps this also explains why people tune in to Jerry Springer and “Desperate Housewives”. There is laughter of recognition and a release of our pent-up anxieties when we see the conflict between vice and virtue acted out whether in a book or on the stage or screen.

Unitarian Universalists do not generally spend a great deal of time talking about sin. I am glad that our liberal religious movement has cast off guilt and shame as a motivation for being virtuous. However, in our affirmation of the worth and dignity of the individual, we often fail to acknowledge and remedy our own indulgences, transgressions, and wrongdoings. For anyone to act as if we are somehow above or beyond these universal human impulses, is true hubris. Appropriately enough, Pride is considered the first of the Seven Deadly Sins because egotism and self-centeredness keeps us from recognizing our own flaws and failings.

As my colleague, Forrest Church writes, “I define the word sin simply. It is anything that divides us: within ourselves; against our neighbor; from the ground of being, the god of all creation.” I find this definition helpful. It reminds me that “sin” is not just about judgment or shame from an outside source. “Sin” is that which divides me within myself, against other people, and from the ground of all being, which some call God or the Sacred or the Interdependent Web of Life.

We must find the path of health and wholeness not only for our own souls but in relationship with the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. Each of the Seven Deadly Sins are misguided attempts at happiness in which our own cravings and desires blinds us to the true source of happiness which is being in harmony and balance with the universe.

All are welcome to attend the Summer series at Channing Church. Each service will offer music, reflections, and ideas for how these basic drives impact our choices and relationships. As you can imagine, facing our flaws requires both honesty and a sense of humor. May we find ways to be more open with ourselves and one another about the thoughts, words and deeds that cause pain, and become more intentional on our spiritual path toward true happiness.