[ExI] SF parody of the "Seven Deadly Social Sins"

[John Grigg]

And to think this was written by a Roman Catholic Jesuit priest who
is an Assistant Dean at Georgetown University!

John Grigg  : )


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/14/AR2008031403387.html?tid=informbox

  Take Me to Your Sinners    **
 **
  <http://www.sphere.com/>

Sunday, March 16, 2008; Page B02

 *In the 6th century, Pope Gregory the Great cracked the whip and spelled
out the seven deadly sins of Catholicism: pride, envy, gluttony, lust,
anger, greed and sloth. Almost 1,500 years later, the Vatican last weekend
identified some newfangled transgressions, including genetic manipulation,
pollution, drug abuse and excessive wealth.* *While human nature and the
temptations that bedevil it never change, technology does -- and presents
ever more vexing ethical questions. Who knows? In 3508, the
Vatican<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Vatican?tid=informline>'s
list of mortal sins might include* *. . .*

**

*1. EARTHISM*, or the belief that the cultures and practices of terrestrial
societies are superior to those of other planets. Such planeto-centric
bigotry leads to intergalactic discord and exploitation.

**

*2. ILLICIT* *REPLICATION*, or the use of technology to make harmful objects
materialize instantaneously. Licit replication -- for example, "Tea. Earl
Grey<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Charles+Grey?tid=informline>.
Hot." -- remains kosher. But its illicit brother, "Handgun. Unregistered.
Loaded," is a no-no.

*3*. *THOUGHT LARCENY*, or the pilfering of another person's ideas through
telepathic technology. Such thievery violates the sacredness of the
individual conscience.

*4. HOLOLUST*, or the satisfaction of sexual appetite through holodeck
technology, which allows simulated encounters with holographic organisms.
(See also: hologluttony.)

*5. VIOLATION OF JUST WARP THEORY*, or the use of warp-drive technology when
the benefits of super-fast travel are not commensurate with the dilithium
resources expended or the collateral damage done to the interstellar
environment. In other words, don't speed between stars unless your wife is
having a baby.

*6. STASIS ABUSE*, or the use of life-suspending technology to dodge
unpleasant duties. Parents may not spend their children's teenage years in
suspended animation. (N.B.: In the interest of family tranquility, parents
may, however, temporarily place their children in suspended animation.)

*7.* *TIMELINE MANIPULATION*, or the use of time travel to undo sinful
actions. This only makes matters worse -- a venial sin becomes a mortal one
if the sinner goes back in time to erase it. Knowing that many humans will
nevertheless succumb to this temptation, priests should give carefully
worded absolution: " *On this timeline,* I absolve you in the name of the
Father, and of the Son . . ."

*-- Father Ryan Maher, S.J., is an assistant dean at Georgetown
University<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Georgetown+University?tid=informline>
.*
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.extropy.org/pipermail/extropy-chat/attachments/20080315/68cecb72/attachment.html>