This is the essence of the human struggle, and in my eyes, it's the essence of the Christian concept of sin as well. The so-called "7 deadly sins" all consist of natural instincts which, when they are over-inflated, end up doing really great harm.
But all those instincts have a very great potential to spin out of control. Eating is an instinct-- when people lose control of that instinct, it's gluttony, and it will likely lead them to an early death. Romantic love is an instinct-- when people lose control of that instinct, you end up with betrayal, disease, and abuse. The desire to rest is an instinct-- when it is compulsive and leads to sloth, then a life is wasted and the person must be supported by a society which shouldn't have to bear the burden of laziness.
I think in all these cases, we look at them with some sense of disgust. These are people who aren't functioning normally. But I don't think there's a single person who doesn't have experience with SOME kind of instinct getting out of control in some way.
But all those instincts have a very great potential to spin out of control. Eating is an instinct-- when people lose control of that instinct, it's gluttony, and it will likely lead them to an early death. Romantic love is an instinct-- when people lose control of that instinct, you end up with betrayal, disease, and abuse. The desire to rest is an instinct-- when it is compulsive and leads to sloth, then a life is wasted and the person must be supported by a society which shouldn't have to bear the burden of laziness.
I think in all these cases, we look at them with some sense of disgust. These are people who aren't functioning normally. But I don't think there's a single person who doesn't have experience with SOME kind of instinct getting out of control in some way.
