The Seven Deadly Sins Today

by Henry Fairlie

Sin, like death, is an unassailable fact of life. It is also one of the last great taboos for public debate. In this compelling book, the Henry Fairlie shows that it is possible and necessary to talk about sin in ways that enrich our societies and our personal lives. Fairlie relates these ancient sins to the central issues of contemporary life: liberal vs. conservative politics, discrimination, pornography, abortion, the vistas of modern science, and especially the pop-psychologies that confirm the narcissism of our age.

Genres: Religion, Christianity, Philosophy, Christian, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 1979

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

You would think this book, written in the late 70s, would feel more dated, but its skewering of American self-involvement, blindness, and sin hardly feels dated at all (the internet has only heightened American ability to pursue these distortions of love). Even though he does not claim Christian faith, Fairlie's knowledge of the history of the sins is deep and extensive, and his obvious ability to bring the particular sins to bear on the modern world is helped by his excellent style and biting judgments. At times seeming a kind of cultural conservative in even talking of sin, he is actually a deeper critic as he also brings his analysis to bear on American business, consumption, and the particular sins of capitalism, reminding the reader that societies and social structures are just as capable of sin as individuals. Clear, insightful, and sharp writing.

[Junaid Javed]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book and felt enlightened by the socio-cultural examination.
Gained more insight on the problems facing us as a society and as individual as well what we can change about ourselves more so than any self-help book I've read up to now.

[David Savage · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is perhaps the best book I have ever read, period!
If you are honest enough with yourself about our inherent sinful nature, this book will help in understanding how these seven sins, in particular, work together to undermine a joy-filled life.

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!!! I have been racking my brain trying to remember where I heard about this book, but it is a treasure. Although I may not agree with everything in the book, the author's insights are amazing. It is definitely a book I am going to read again.

[Norm · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good way to promote self examination is to read this book. Practical, not ponderous, yet well researched with many helpful observations

[Rhnzz111 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Henry Fairlie’s The Seven Deadly Sins Today is an insightful and thought-provoking exploration of the traditional Christian concept of the seven deadly sins and their relevance in modern society. While grounded in Christian tradition, the book avoids heavy preaching or doctrinal imposition, making it an accessible read for people from various backgrounds, including those outside of Christianity. As a Muslim, I find the book's exploration of these moral failings quite insightful and acceptable, given the shared ethical concerns between the two faiths regarding human behavior and morality.

Fairlie offers a philosophical examination of each of the seven sins—pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony, and lust—in a manner that is both intellectual and practical. His explanations are refreshingly clear and free of pedantic jargon, making complex moral and philosophical concepts understandable for the average reader. Rather than merely listing the sins and their implications, he presents them as integral parts of human nature and society, reflecting on how they shape individual behavior and collective societal norms today.

One of the strengths of this book is Fairlie's ability to engage with both classical philosophy and modern examples, providing compelling critiques of popular figures and cultural works that have, at times, embodied or influenced these sins. He does not shy away from analyzing the moral shortcomings of historical figures, celebrities, or cultural movements, offering sharp insights without descending into overly moralistic judgments. His arguments are well-supported and serve as a critique of contemporary culture, which often values excess and indulgence over reflection and moderation.

In addition to its philosophical content, The Seven Deadly Sins Today serves as a great introduction to more complex works in Christian literature and philosophy. For anyone interested in exploring deeper texts like John Milton’s Paradise Lost, this book provides a helpful foundation in understanding the moral dilemmas and theological ideas that such works address.

[AndrewYoung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sin is something I’ve avoided thinking about from an intellectual and psychological position - which is essentially what this book does so well. Religion aside, it make an excellent case for the examination and extermination of sin in our contemporary world, without being the slightest bit “Bible bashing”.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Profound and insightful essays by a "reluctant unbeliever" on the affect of sin on individuals and western culture. Worth rereading again!

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a hard book to read. The catalog of sins is heavy, the indictment of our culture is ruthless, the self-questioning one undergoes is piercing. Fairlie's analysis is fascinating and instructive.

Interestingly, Fairlie is a self-described "reluctant unbeliever." He believes there are sins, but primarily from a psychological standpoint. In other words, sin is bad because it is betrayal on one's own self. He can't quite bring himself to acknowledge that there must be a law-giver in order for there to be laws, and hence sins against those laws. He quotes often from Dante's Divine Comedy, and while he is comfortable citing passages in Hell and in Purgatory, he stops short of entering into Heaven. He leaves when Virgil leaves. His solution to the problem of sin and our sinning is psychological and scientific. He never treats of the role of the grace of the Savior Jesus Christ in helping us overcome our sins and atoning for them before God.

This book is a bracing form of self-awareness raising and provides much food for thought. One only wishes that Fairlie could have found some measure of hope, some measure of faith in the One who triumphed over all the deadly sins.

[James Grinwis · Rating 1 out of 5]

A pontificate on a soapbox, playing God, but exceptionally self important and bristly. A good idea for a book like this would be the author examining her/himself in regards to the deadly sin, then interweaving it with her/his own critique of social ills, instead of calling out "everyone" except himself.

ie:"People today spend interminable hours telling each other 'where they're coming from,' and 'where they're at,' where all that they are doing is inventing little fictions about themselves and their lives. Every new relationship is begun with the dubious exchange of these quirky little maps."
-Fairlie in chapter 3 on Anger

His use of 'interminable" and "all they are doing" and "every new relationship" in the above forgettable sentences gives the reader a good take on the trajectory of this commentary on sin.

The author, on a brief encyclopedia search, had massive debt and extramarital affairs, and died of alcoholism. That should tell you something about his pontificating crap.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a solid book. Fairlie's keen powers of perception do a lot for understanding the ways in which our culture avoids discussing particular sins, and the ways that sin manages to engrave itself upon the individual and social conscience when we reject the discussion of it.

[Erik]

Recommended by James Schall in Another Sort of Learning, Chapter 10, as one of Eight Books on Evil and Suffering.