# What is a cardinal sin? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 19, 2004, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-cardinal-sin/265015 "2004-09-19T18:07:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2004, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-cardinal-sin/265015/1 "2004-09-19T18:07:04Z")
My internet research has revealed the fact that there actually is, rather ironically, a [Cardinal Sin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaime_Cardinal_Sin), but aside from that I can’t find out what a “cardinal sin” is. It’s a phrase I found myself using today, ex, “It’s not like it’s a cardinal sin.” The origins of the phrase would be rather interesting as well. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2004, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-cardinal-sin/265015/2 "2004-09-19T18:13:01Z")
> [@alterego](#): > > My internet research has revealed the fact that there actually is, rather ironically, a [Cardinal Sin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaime_Cardinal_Sin), but aside from that I can’t find out what a “cardinal sin” is. It’s a phrase I found myself using today, ex, “It’s not like it’s a cardinal sin.” The origins of the phrase would be rather interesting as well. A “Cardinal” sin is a serious offense, the likes of which can send you to hell if you die without confessing it. It’s the opposite of a “Venial” sin, which is trivial and of little consequence. I seldom hear either term since leaving Catholic school. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2004, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-cardinal-sin/265015/3 "2004-09-19T18:18:30Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > A “Cardinal” sin is a serious offense, the likes of which can send you to hell if you die without confessing it. It’s the opposite of a “Venial” sin, which is trivial and of little consequence. I seldom hear either term since leaving Catholic school. No, that’s a “mortal” sin. There are seven “cardinal” sins, also known as the “deadly sins.” They are pride, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, and sloth. They are the basic sins from which all others originate. ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2004, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-cardinal-sin/265015/4 "2004-09-19T18:31:28Z")
Thanks for the prompt reply. I updated the [Wikipedia article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_deadly_sins) appropriately. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2004, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-cardinal-sin/265015/5 "2004-09-19T18:31:33Z")
And each cardinal sin has an accompaning cardinal virtue…humility, liberality, chastity, patience, abstinence, kindness, and dilligence. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2004, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-cardinal-sin/265015/6 "2004-09-19T19:49:20Z")
Of course, there’s also [Cardinal Sin](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bsin.html). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2004, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-cardinal-sin/265015/7 "2004-09-19T20:11:23Z")
Poly, you never cease to amaze Me!! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Catalyst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@Catalyst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catalyst)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2004, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-cardinal-sin/265015/8 "2004-09-19T20:19:40Z")
[The Master Speaks](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010601.html) ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2004, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-cardinal-sin/265015/9 "2004-09-20T01:13:19Z")
Check out [deadlysins.com](http://deadlysins.com) for more information. Each of the cardinal sins is associated with a contrary virtue, an animal, and a punishment. Not to be confused with [7deadlysims.com](http://7deadlysims.com) ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2004, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-cardinal-sin/265015/10 "2004-09-20T01:42:29Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > Of course, there’s also [Cardinal Sin](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bsin.html). 🙂 But is there a Cardinal Biggles? ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2004, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-cardinal-sin/265015/11 "2004-09-20T04:47:07Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > Of course, there’s also [Cardinal Sin](http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bsin.html). 🙂 Don’t suppose you checked the link in the OP? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2004, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-cardinal-sin/265015/12 "2004-09-20T14:49:17Z")
> [@](#): > > What is a cardinal sin? An error by a St. Louis ballplayer. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2004, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-cardinal-sin/265015/13 "2004-09-20T16:47:54Z")
As far as we Catholics are concerned, the cardinal sins are not really sins at all. rather, they are the things which lead to sin. In other words, if you feel these emotion/get into these states, you’re heading for trouble and need to reconsider yourself. But each of them is, on some level, quite natural, albeit not desirable. And one of them, “Pride”, can also actually be a virtue. Such is the way of the world.