cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/2916565

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/2916431

There’s a lot of talk of the “obesity epidemic” and this is often discussed in scientific terms, about “counting calories” to lose weight, or fad weight loss diets (which can work), or just “exercising more and eating less”

But I’ve thought from time to time that maybe this is more of a spiritual problem of the sin of gluttony, and as such it may not be as easily solved by self-will and discipline, but by the grace of God through people undergoing holy fasts for the good of soul and body

What do you think about the spiritual dimension of the “obesity epidemic”, or the traditional idea of the sin of gluttony?

Catholic encyclopedia on gluttony: https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06590a.htm

Aquinas on gluttony: https://www.newadvent.org/summa/3148.htm

  • Skoobie@sopuli.xyz
    51·
    11 months ago

    Gluttony: the word we use to distinguish between those with a high metabolism and those with a low one.

    Seriously, this is asinine. No, the obesity epidemic is not a spiritual one. It’s a cultural health and science one, because we haven’t had normal chemicals in our bodies in a century.

  • CountZero@lemmy.world
    1·
    11 months ago

    Do you know of any real world examples in which a problem has a potential scientific solution and a potential spiritual solution, and the spiritual solution is more effective?

    • walnutwalrus@lemmy.worldOP
      1·
      11 months ago

      well psychology can be pretty non-scientific for one

      Psychology is not a scientific field because it does not meet the five basic requirements for a field to be considered scientifically rigorous: clearly defined terminology, quantifiability, highly controlled experimental conditions, reproducibility, and predictability and testability.

      lust might be another problem like gluttony for another