Defeating Sin: Overcoming Our Passions and Changing Forever

by Joseph David Huneycutt, Basil the Great (Preface by)

Defeating Sin will help readers to better understand the disease that troubles the human soul. Defeating Sin will prove an invaluable aid for those engaged in spiritual warfare, helping them make that U-trun from the passions toward the virtues. Christians of all denominational background will benefit from the ancient wisdom of the Church Fathers and the perpetual call to repentance.

Genres: Spirituality, Christian Living, Christianity, Theology

210 pages, Paperback

First published October 9, 2007

Reviews

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's an old adage that Medical Students read about dread diseases in their studies, and self-diagnose themselves with every possible ailment. I felt the same way when I read this book - it's an exploration of the Seven Deadly Sins (easily rattled off if you remember the mnemonic "Pale Gas") and their corresponding inverses, the Seven Virtues, and you definitely see yourself in every word written. Gulp.
It's not really what I'd classify as a book, though. It is really lecture notes for a retreat on this topic. I'd love to attend one of the retreats.
Thank you to my dear friend who loaned me this book, it is definitely good Lenten reading.

[Val Finnell, MD, MPH · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book to assist the reader in making their Confession through the use of the mnemonic PALE GAS to remind us of the Seven Deadly Sins (Pride, Anger, Lust, Envy, Greed, Avarice, and Sloth) and their corresponding virtues. Also valuable is the analogy of the two trees in the Garden of Eden. The Tree of Life, which was forbidden to humankind, reappears on Calvary. Paradoxically, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil appears good to us while the Tree of Life, in the form of Christ crucified, appears to be death when it is in fact the only path to light and life.

[Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent volume on the passions and their opposing virtues. I highly recommend it to everyone who has struggled in the past or has given up and settled into living with the passions. I especially found the imagery of the Two Trees, especially the final chapter "The Two Trees," which is a perfect tool to use in groups or on one's own to reflect on the struggles of overcoming the passions.

Above all else, I recommend reading this and talking to one's spiritual father in order to receive instruction for what one should do.

[Ray Boshers · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I am not part of the Orthodox Church, I found this book to be well written and easy to understand. Fr. Honeycutt does an excellent job of showing what is at the root of all sin and how we should seek the virtues to live a life that pleases our Heavenly Father. The examples he gives from his retreats are extremely helpful. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is seeking a closer walk with our Heavenly Father.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imminently practical distillation of Patristic wisdom and psychology for the cure of the passions. This work will be of tremendous service to Orthodox Christians and Christians of other traditions seeking guidance for the spiritual healing of the passions.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a good read during Great Lent about vice and virtue from an orthodox perspective. Highly quotable of the church fathers, yet still readable, I think I'll be coming back to this every year or so around the fasts.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!!! I recomend this for every Christian.

[Ted · Rating 3 out of 5]

A primer to help us think about our passions and how to overcome them. Some helpful ideas for how to think about confession.

[Archafka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inner reflection

This is a great source of information for reflection pertaining to repentance. meaningful and deep with valuable referances one can refer to.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as a gift from the author himself! (He even signed it).