If a significant percentage of Americans strongly identify

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as Christians, why do you suppose it is that those same people ignore the seven deadly sins?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_deadly_sins

The one that sticks out like a sore thumb is Gluttony. It's biologically impossible for 41.9% of the American population to be obese if Most of them are not being gluttonous. Cross reference that with the fact that 63% of Americans identify as Christian and clearly there is some overlap - not just atheists and people of other faiths over consuming calories. (and then doubling down with another deadly sin of being a Sloth. (physically))

Just doesn't make sense that there would be so much material out there espousing Christian values and living by the word of God and attending church/mass and even MEGACHURCHES in stadiums to portray some sort of theological nation when outside observers don't even have to witness any behaviours or be privy to any private information to know for a fact that these same people are committing the deadly sins of Gluttony & Sloth, at least.

How the Hell do these people justify this in-congruence? Just a thought.

I don't agree. Most people are not in a position to choose what kinds of foods are available in supermarkets, or what kinds of food additives they contain. That's why a lot of people, here in the U.S.A., are unable to lose weight no matter how hard they try.

The only way to solve the obesity problem, here in U.S.A., would be through government regulation of food additives, similar to already-existing regulations in Europe (and possibly Canada?).

Nonsense. Supermarkets contain all kinds of foods and Ingredients for Making Food. I've shopped in American supermarkets and they're very similar to what we have here in Canada. It's a choice to buy processed hfcs & various other garbage, put excessive amounts of it in your mouth, chew & swallow.

It's not like American stores don't sell fruits & veggies, rice & beans, potatoes & onions, chicken & eggs, tuna and peanut butter etc etc. No one is obligated to buy and eat junkfood vs. real food. And it's ridiculous to pretend that real food is unavailable.

It's not a black and white issue, personal responsibility is a factor, but finances and time budgeting are also relevant.

Is it a choice to be so exhausted from work and other responsibilities that one doesn't have the energy left to also prepare meals from scratch?

Some people's finances dictate that their diet will largely reflect what was on sale that week.

Between lack of time and lack of money, some people's diets are going to basically be bachelor chow, and being judgmental about that because you're able to eat better isn't a good look.

We are ALL sinners. End of discussion.

Eve harkened unto that snake about that fruit....and thats why we all been a bunch of f**k ups ever since (Americans and everyone else).

Like just the other day...I confessed to my priest that I had....slothed!

Last edited by naturalplastic on 28 Oct 2023, 3:30 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Look up “food deserts in the USA”, as that does contribute to the issue. I have lived in one and you have to travel quite a distance to find nutritious food choices. Many of the foods in those ares are either fast food or heavily processed. Sure, you could order nutritious food for delivery if you want to pay 2x (or more) for similar meals. Sometimes it can come down to what you can afford to eat.

Also BS, IMO.

There are inexpensive foods that are relatively healthy. Most people who aren't homeless have the ability to prepare and store food. Batch cook once or twice a week if you're too tired to cook daily - I've done that.

Just because my financial means are better today doesn't mean they always were. I've been transparent about times of extreme poverty - like when my entire income was about $150/month for 1-1.5 years. Granted, I had the charity of friends to assist.

When people have a very limited budget for food it means buying the Most nutrition you can get per dollar, not wasting money on fast food junk or hfcs flavoured cardboard or whatever. It means buying a sack of rice, potatoes, onions. A large jar of real peanut butter. Maybe a loaf of bread, some eggs, canned tuna. Some beans & lentils etc - survival food to make it through tough times without self inducing malnutrition.

Most working class people work jobs and are tired. People still cook and eat. Suggesting that being tired from work (like everyone else) = must punish one's body And wallet with fast food and junk food is complete nonsense. Everyone with a roof over their head, a fridge & stove, has plenty of opportunity to store & cook reasonably nutritious meals and shovelling junk food down their throats instead is entirely a (poor) choice.

I wonder how many people actually confess to a priest that they have been sloths.

The Seven Deadly Sins aren't a major part of Christian theology compared to, for example, the Ten Commandments. But all the same, perfection is an impossible standard - it is inevitable that people will make mistakes.

Saw some mini documentary on them and how a couple dollar store chains are the only places to buy groceries for 30+ miles. As bizarre as that is; adapt and thrive. Do as Canadians in far off the beaten path places do.. make a trip to Costco every couple months even if it means driving a couple hundred kms each way. Load your vehicle up with all the essentials. Plant a garden for some fresh stuff wherever it's possible to grow things. Carpool/split the gas cost with neighbours. If you live somewhere so remote there's no grocery store and you're not a subsistence farmer with chickens, a cow, some goats and a garden then find a way to make the trek to resupply every so often as needed. People I know do it from small towns in BC to being way the hell up North in the Yukon. It's not impossible. It's a matter of priorities/desires vs. taking the easy (unhealthy) path of dollar stores & dollar menus.

I stuffed my face tonight so much so I can hardly breathe. Do I feel guilty?

Not one jot.

You'd have to be an absolute fool to believe someone eating a Big Mac or a cup of ramen noodles thinks of it as punishing themselves, they're attempting to sustain themselves.

You frame it like they're going out of their way to harm themselves instead of just eating the food they have access to, can afford and are used to.

Sorry, but your framing of the issue is so disconnected from reality that it undermines whatever valid point you could have.

It seems you are being intentionally obtuse.

No one believes that a big mac is a nutritious meal. It doesn't even take a calculator to realize that a couple cups of rice and a 1/2 can of tuna are more nutritious for around 20% the cost.

People can't be as stupid as to believe that they're not self harming with junk food. Sure, it tastes good maybe once every several months or a year, but there's no way people are as stupid as to believe that they're properly nourishing themselves to the best of their ability and budget when they buy a big mac. It's more like "I'm too drunk & stoned to care, so meh whatever."

You seem to be under the impression that everyone is as interested in nutrition as you are, while also passing judgment on those who make choices that aren't the ones you make.

Tell us more about how people who make food choices you don't approve of are stupid and drunk for eating what they have access to, can afford and enjoy.

American society is highly stressful. Stress can lead to obesity. After the Covid pandemic it seems that people in many countries all over the had an increased obesity rate, and partly it's because of the stress and misery.

100% this.

I wonder how common comfort eating is and how much it contributes to the problem.

Stress likely contributes both directly (due to how it impacts hormones) but also indirectly, due to some of the mechanisms people have for coping with stress.