Well, this was a blog I wrote a while back and was going to place it on writingup but since they're no longer around, I guess I'll do it here. I'm guessing this will get some comments, I notice people tend to comment more here than on writingup.

I'd also like to preface it by saying a few of the things that got me thinking about this, besides 9/11 and the reaction were also talk radio. Then there was a prank call where a Jewish daughter told her parents she was marrying an Italian guy and the parents went ballistic. The dad screamed at her, threatened to go to college and bring her home and kill the boy, even though he had never met him. The mom was lamenting that after all they had done for their daughter this is how she treats them. Also, the CNN special "God's Warriors" really makes you wonder. Well, here we go.

I have come to the conclusion that there are not seven deadly sins but eight. I’ve looked long and hard at this world, man’s inhumanity to man, our ego, and even the other seven and realize, no matter how you put certain evil, thoughtless, uncaring, egotistical, maniacal, or well intended but misguided deeds that happen in this world, they can’t all fit in the category of seven deadly sins. Sure some can take on multiple sins but still that may not necessarily explain the entire deed. I believe the 8th one does. I call this sin: The Sin of Righteousness.

Of all the sins, I believe this one is the deadliest one of all. It is deadly because, unlike the others which are shallow, easily seen, and can be pointed to, this one clouds itself under the guise of doing good, doing the right thing, or doing the Godly thing.

The sin of Righteousness wraps itself around God and says that doing anything in the name of God is ok. Killing, discriminating, hate, slavery, genocide, conquest, and countless atrocities have been done and justified because the people perpetrating these horrors were doing them “In Gods Name.” Each religion justifies their actions using their sacred text. If you’ve ever used God to: justify hating a group of people (Jews, gays, blacks, whites, Asians, Hispanics, Muslim, Christians, Hindus, Buddhist, Europeans, Americans, Africans, Australians, etc.), used to judge other people (you’re going to Hell, you’re an infidel, you’re not kosher, etc.), used it to justify discrimination, used it to justify attacks on other people, used it to justify murder, used it in anyway that does not promote the unconditional love and uplifting of your fellow human beings, you are guilty of the sin of Righteousness. The scariest part of all of this is even if zealots and extremist read this, they won’t believe it applies to them; that’s the epitome of the sin of Righteousness.

Some may look at this and say, “This is nothing more than the sin of Pride and/or Vanity,” but I contend that the sin of Righteousness goes beyond these. All of the seven deadly sins deal with the ‘self.’ Pride says, “I am the greatest, the best, there are no others greater than me.” Vanity says, “I am the prettiest, handsomest, most bestest person on the planet.” Righteousness says, “Not only am I all of these things, I’m this way because that’s how God made me.” It goes on further to believe that, “Because I am righteous, I can judge you and I am right in judging you because I have God on my side and you don’t.”

The sin of Righteousness blinds people to the world. If the world does not fit in their neat little frame, then not only is it wrong but they have the right to correct it, with extreme prejudice if necessary. We see so many examples of this on a daily basis. I’m not going to make a list, it would take a lifetime and I still wouldn’t be done. So let’s just say, God does not need warriors. God does not need zealots. God does not need people to oppress other people in his name. God needs you to love each other. God needs you to forgive each other. God needs you to understand that even if a person makes a mistake, they are still capable of doing great things. Be religious, or spiritual, whichever suits you. Just like with pride, be proud of what you do and accomplish but beware the sin of Pride. Be righteous but beware the sin of Righteousness.

There are two passages I like to use out of the bible, both said by Jesus. First: Do unto others as you would have other do unto you. Second: Love one another as I have loved you. While all the rest of it is good and will show you how to live a rich fulfilling life, if we could just grasps these two concepts the amount of change we would see in the world would be profound. Because I honestly believe that so go the worst of us, so go the rest of us. What you do to someone else you ultimately do to yourself. So, if you have to do something to someone else, love them, so that you are loving yourself. And that’s all God needs.