The Seven Capital Sins

• There are seven capital sins, and these are most commonly referred to nowadays as pride, lust, envy, gluttony, anger, greed and sloth. The specific names for the capital sins have changed slightly over history because of changes in language and in the specific meanings of words. In earlier Christian times, they were recorded as vainglory, lechery, envy, gluttony, wrath, avarice and discouragement. The Christian faith has taught its followers to avoid committing these sins throughout its history.
  
  

Why Capital Sins?

• These sins in particular are called the capital sins because within Christianity, it is thought that all other sins committed by humans stem from these seven vices. So in effect, the capital sins are the origin of all other sins, and pursuing or committing one of the deadly sins will lead to a person into committing a variety of other sins, both minor and serious.
  
  

The History of Capital Sins

• Capital sins were first thought to have been recorded in the Bible, in the Book of Proverbs. Seven different sins were referred to as things that the Lord -- meaning God -- hated and detested. However, these sins differ from what is recognized nowadays as the seven capital sins. In the 4th century A.D., a Greek monk called Evagrius Ponticus made a list of eight sins he called evil thoughts. At the end of the 7th century, Pope Gregory I amended this list and created what is now widely known as the Seven Deadly Sins.
  
  

Reference to Capital Sins in Modern Culture

• The seven capital sins have been a featured or prominently mentioned in films, television shows, music, books and video games. Seven films were made in 1917, and the subject of each film was one of the capital sins. The movie "Seven," made in 1995, told the story of a murderer who targeted people guilty of committing one of the Seven Deadly Sins. A metal band called Soulfly released an album called "Omen" in 2010, with the seven capital sins depicted in the album's artwork.