• What is lust?
• Other deadly sins

We explain what lust is, the origin of the term and why various religions condemn it. Also, other deadly sins.

Lust is condemned by religions that have a restrictive view of sex.

What is lust?

Lust is commonly understood as the exacerbated and uncontrollable desire for sexual pleasures, that is, an irrepressible and destructive sexual desire. This meaning of the term comes from the moral Judeo-Christian religious (and especially the Catholic), according to which it is considered one of the seven deadly sins, that is, the seven sins primordial, contrary to the theological virtues Christian.

However, the term comes from the Latin voice luxus ("Luxury"), used in Ancient Rome to refer to the accumulation of possessions, without a sinful sense. The latter was added by Christianity, which from the end of the third century became the religion official of the Roman Empire, and that, like many other religions, but especially Abrahamic monotheisms (that is, Judaism and Islam), had a restrictive vision of sex.

Therefore, we can find in both testaments of the Bible and in the Koran numerous condemnations of both sexual debauchery and "immoral" or "improper" sexual behavior, always associated with lust.

It is possible that the change in meaning of the word (from "luxury" to "vicious sex") had to do with the waste and debauchery typical of the rich and powerful of Ancient Rome, who used to give banquets and feasts in which food, sex and alcohol were freely consumed by the guests.

In any case, the idea of ​​lust as a grave sin was part of the Christian morality that prevailed in the medieval European for centuries. In its most puritanical moments, such morality forced sex without enjoyment and entirely dedicated to procreation, and anything else was considered lustful behavior, which would send the sinner to the second circle of hell (according to the representation of Dante Alighieri in his Divine Comedy).

Other deadly sins

Aside from lust, the other six deadly sins were:

• The go to, understood as excessive rage, rancor and hatred.
• The gluttony, understood as excessive taste for food (and drink).
• The pride, understood as the maximum point of the arrogance and of believing himself above God.
• The envy, understood as hatred for successes and happiness alien and the desire to destroy them.
• The avarice, understood as excessive attachment to material goods and wealth.
• The laziness, understood as laziness or the absolute lack of industry.