Gluttony


 * For other uses, see Gluttony (disambiguation)

Derived from the Latin gluttire, meaning to gulp down or swallow, gluttony is the over-indulgence and over-consumption of food, drink, or intoxicants to the point of waste. In some Christian denominations, it is considered one of the seven deadly sins—a misplaced desire of food or its withholding from the needy.

Depending on the culture, it can be seen as either a vice or a sign of status. The relative affluence of the society can affect this view both ways. A wealthy group might take pride in the security of having enough food to eat to show it off, but it could also result in a moral backlash when confronted with the reality of those less fortunate.

Early Church leaders (e.g., Thomas Aquinas) took a more expansive view of gluttony (Okholm 2000), arguing that it could also include an obsessive anticipation of meals, and the constant eating of delicacies and excessively costly foods. He went so far as to prepare a list of five ways to commit gluttony, including:


 * Praepropere - eating too soon
 * Laute - eating too expensively
 * Nimis - eating too much
 * Ardenter - eating too eagerly
 * Studiose - eating too daintily

Innocent XI has condemned the proposition which asserts, that it is not a sin to eat or to drink from the sole motive of satisfying the palate. However, it is not a fault to feel pleasure in eating: for it is, generally speaking, impossible to eat without experiencing the delight which food naturally produces. But, it is a defect to eat, like beasts, through the sole motive of sensual gratification, and without any reasonable object. Hence, the most delicious meats may be eaten without sin, if the motive be good and worthy of a rational creature; and, in taking the coarsest food through attachment to pleasure, there may be a fault.

Gluttony in the Bible
Gluttony is addressed by the Biblical teachings of moderation (Ecclesiastes 7:18) and self-control (Galatians 5:23; Titus 2:12). It is mentioned most in the book of Proverbs, e.g.,
 * “Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.” (Proverbs 23:20-21)
 * “He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.” (Proverbs 28:7)
 * “When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.” (Proverbs 23:2)

The view of gluttony as one of the Seven Deadly Sins is rooted in the physical destructiveness of excess consumption of food or drink. At the same time, gluttony can cause an individual to focus so intensely on physical desires that the life of the spirit is stunted or forgotten. As a case in point, Emperor Claudius of Rome was, according to Suetonius, a notorious glutton who would bathe in food and gulp down priceless pearls dissolved in vinegar. This self-indulgent personality, never checked by parent or court, led to excesses of violence as well.1 Also See Lewis Welt for examples

Glorified gluttony
In some social groups gluttony has become glorified, for example, competitive eating competitions. These competitions are often overt displays which are televised. A famous example is Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.

In the media

 * In Charmed , Piper Halliwell Gluttony
 * In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Augustus Gloop represents gluttony.
 * In Se7en the first murder victim represents gluttony
 * In Garth Nix's The Keys to the Kingdom series, gluttony is embodied by Drowned Wednesday, who appropriately takes the form of an enormous Leviathan.
 * In Fullmetal Alchemist, Gluttony is one of seven homunculi. He has the ability to eat literally anything, and is always seen around another homunculus, Lust.
 * In the Archie Comics newspaper comic for August 14, 2007, it is stated that Jughead is listed in Wikipedia under "Glutton".

1 Suetonius, The Lives of the Twelve Caesars