Song of the Week:
Choked Out by: M.A.G.S
Recap of Last Week’s Editorial
Last week, I shared my experience with gluttony and how it nudged me into making some much-needed changes. But let’s be honest, when I think of gluttony (or any of the seven deadly sins, really), the first thing that pops into my head is the anime series The Seven Deadly Sins. If you haven’t watched it yet, you’re probably wondering: is it worth your time? Spoiler alert: it is. It’s a wild mix of medieval magic, Christian themes, and Arthurian legend, plus the characters are top tier. Oh, and let’s not forget that SpongeBob conspiracy theory where each character represents one of the seven deadly sins—mind blown, right?
That got me thinking—why are these specific sins so important? Why did God choose these seven to keep us on our moral toes? I’ll admit, my knowledge of Western religion is pretty surface level, but still, these sins seem to hit the nail on the head when it comes to human behavior. And while I was thinking about all this, I had another realization: gluttony wasn’t just about food for me. I was overconsuming everything—media, sugar, salt, laziness. You name it, I was indulging in it.
Is America Gluttonous?
In a country where abundance is the norm, it’s easy to fall into that trap. I never had to worry about running out of anything, so I didn’t. If I liked something, I wanted more of it. Why not? In America we have endless options at our fingertips. But that’s when it hit me. It is a privilege in just being able to say that let alone practice it. I wasn’t just indulging; I was drowning in excess.
Thus, my lightbulb moment: my habits were gluttonous, not just in food, but in life. The rose-colored glasses came off, I could see it in everyone. America is banking off of our seven deadly sin cravings. I am a product of my environment and the lifestyle I grew up with. But now, as an adult I know I need to regulate myself and differentiate what my needs are versus what my wants are. My parents tried to teach me this lesson but as a kid growing up in America all we know is how good we have it.
It wasn’t about seeing myself as a sinner or some follower of Christ. It was about recognizing that too much of anything—whether it’s food, pride, or even laziness—can lead you down a dangerous path. Suddenly, those seven deadly sins didn’t seem so random. I mean, God really nailed it with that list. They are deadly. Too much pride? You lose touch with reality. Too much greed? You forget empathy. Too much lust? You lose yourself to someone else’s reality.
Seven Deadly Sins
When I started digging deeper, I was surprised to find out that the seven deadly sins aren’t a universal religious concept, like I’d assumed. They’re primarily rooted in early Christian theology. This was kind of a wake-up call for me. I always thought religion was used to manipulate or control people, but this actually felt meaningful. These sins weren’t just about judgment; they were about human nature and how easy it is to lose control.
Pride, Envy, anger, sloth, greed, gluttony and lust are just some random characteristics. They are action-based, they reflect how we behave. And when you see them work in pop culture (like The Seven Deadly Sins anime), it’s fascinating to see how they a religious idea blends with fantasy storytelling elements. This anime did a great job of showing how each character’s sin shaped their life, but what I really loved was how they weren’t defined by their sins. The show is about redemption, about pushing through past mistakes and learning to be better. Plus, they all got a semi-happy ending which quite frankly they deserved from day one.
So, why these seven sins and not others? Like, why isn’t dishonesty on the list? Or cowardice? I think it’s because these seven are so directly tied to our actions and how we can easily tip the balance from healthy to destructive. It’s not just about being “bad” or “sinful.” It’s about how easy it is to go too far, whether that’s pride turning into narcissism or greed turning into obsession. And ultimately, the judgment is more personal than religious. What’s too much for one person might be just fine for another. In the end, it’s all about finding your own balance and being mindful of those fine lines we cross when we lose control.
People use religion to help find their own balance, I like the true philosopher I am, think about it till I can’t no more. However, what if you don’t have religion or self-awareness to make you think? Well, hopefully that’s where I come in. I want to highlight themes in life for us to be able to sit and think about with friends or family and most importantly with yourself. Today, they seem more like timeless warning about excess and self-control than religious idea. The relevance of these sins is a reminder that, even in our modern, fast-paced world, some old truths about human nature still hold up. And even through all the chaos, we owe it to ourselves to just think.
Take it out on me
Apologies in advance if I am the one to rip those rose-colored glasses off you. I think America needs a good look in the mirror with just how active they are bobbing the line with the seven deadly sins. It is a good reality check. See where you are, see what you have, and just being okay with what you have. There is a book called, “If this isn’t nice, then what is?” and that title could solve so many problems and shed light as to what the problems are. But to get the root of why it isn’t nice, is maybe you are participating in activities aligning with the sins. Either way only you have the power to change it and that starts with just thinking about it. Also, please don’t think I am advocating for Christianity, I am not. Sin, not a sin, whatever you want to call it; go for it.
This week I leave you Choked Out by M.A.G.S with a song that reminds me of the process to be becoming my higher self. Every action has a reason whether that be subconscious or conscious. We all act in accordance with what our brains tell us to do. However, “we” (our souls? or heart?) tell our brains what to think. At least that is the idea, but when we do there is going to be someone that loses or does not get what they want. When I listen to my music, I imagine a whole storyline forreal. When you are at war with yourself, sadly, the loser is you, but don’t forget you are also the winner. And that battle is what this song reminds me.
Thank you for joining me on a full one-year NEXT WEEK journey at The Unfinished Times! OMG I can’t believe that we have made it here! I have been dreaming of this day and it has finally arrived! Don’t forget to follow me for more insightful content, give a shout-out to spread the word, and consider signing up for our Co-Collective to be part of our vibrant community. And if you missed any posts from previous weeks, take a moment to catch up! Let’s continue exploring, sharing, and growing together! <3 See you in the next post~XOXO
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