The morning sun gently warmed the path leading to the city library. Marlon and Riri walked side by side, each lost in their own thoughts. They had briefly discussed the concepts of the Seven Deadly Sins and Seven Heavenly Virtues back on campus, but their conversations always ended with more questions than answers.
"So, why are we going to the library again? Can't we just look everything up online?" Riri asked, stretching her shoulders.
Marlon gave a small smile. "Online info is too shallow. We need deeper references—classic books, writings from philosophers, historical records that explain why these concepts have lasted so long. Besides, I want to know how people in the past viewed sin and virtue."
Riri sighed. "Alright. But if I get sleepy, you're buying me coffee."
Marlon chuckled. "Deal. But if I find something interesting, you owe me a snack."
Riri narrowed her eyes. "Wait, that's not fair."
Marlon shrugged. "Life isn't fair. That's why we need balance."
"You're way too philosophical. You'll probably quote Plato when choosing lunch."
"Don't worry. I only quote Plato when searching for the meaning of life. For lunch, I trust my gut."
They stepped into the quiet library. The air smelled of old books and aged wood. The silence made every step sound more distinct, as if the outside world had vanished. A few students sat with their laptops and notebooks, while an elderly librarian tidied the shelves.
Riri took a deep breath. "I like this place. Quiet, but full of stories."
Marlon nodded. "Let's start in the history section. We need to find out how these concepts developed."
History and Mythology
They walked over to the tall shelves filled with thick books. Marlon pulled out a volume titled A History of Sin and Virtue by Jeffrey Burton Russell and flipped it open.
"Check this out," he said, reading aloud. "The concept of the Seven Deadly Sins was first introduced by a monk named Evagrius Ponticus in the fourth century, in his book Praktikos. Back then, he called them the 'Eight Evil Thoughts.' Later on, Pope Gregory I refined them into the seven cardinal sins we know today."
Riri leaned against the shelf. "So it didn't start as seven? What was removed?"
Marlon skimmed ahead. "Looks like the sin of 'excessive sorrow' was either removed or merged into the others. And to balance things out, the idea of the Seven Heavenly Virtues came about, which Thomas Aquinas later reinforced in his Summa Theologica."
Riri frowned. "So they modified sin? Isn't sin supposed to be fixed? That's like updating game rules."
Marlon laughed. "Now that you mention it, it kinda is. Over time, how people view sin and virtue changes, depending on the needs of the era."
Philosophical Perspectives
They moved to the philosophy section. Marlon picked up Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle and read a bit. "Aristotle said that virtue lies in the middle between two extremes. Courage, for example, sits between cowardice and recklessness. Applied to sin and virtue, maybe it's about maintaining a balance."
Riri nodded thoughtfully. "So being too good can also be a problem. Like being overly generous to the point of not being able to support yourself. Or too patient and ending up being taken advantage of."
Marlon smiled. "That's Aristotle's golden mean—the balance between positive and negative extremes."
Religious Perspectives (Christianity & Islam)
They moved to the theology section and found Summa Theologica by Thomas Aquinas. Marlon flipped to a chapter on the Seven Deadly Sins.
"Aquinas saw these sins as the roots of human evil. Pride, for instance, is considered the core sin because all the others stem from it," Marlon explained.
Riri added, "On the other hand, the Seven Heavenly Virtues are seen as the way to overcome those sins. For example, humility counters pride, and patience counters wrath."
They then looked into Islamic references and found Ihya Ulumuddin by Al-Ghazali. Riri read aloud, "Al-Ghazali discusses spiritual diseases similar to the Seven Deadly Sins, like riya' (showing off), ujub (excessive pride), and hasad (envy). But Islam emphasizes purification of the heart through worship and self-reflection."
Marlon nodded. "So in Islam, sin is something that can be healed through repentance and inner cleansing—not just fixed categories."
Psychological Perspectives
"Let's check the psychology section now," said Riri, pulling out The Lucifer Effect by Philip Zimbardo.
"Zimbardo talks about how environments can turn good people bad," Marlon said. "So these sins aren't just inborn traits—they can be shaped by circumstances."
Riri nodded. "Freud talked about this in his psychoanalysis too. He said we have three parts: the id, ego, and superego. The id is our primal drive—kind of like the source of sin. The superego represents moral norms. The ego sits in between, trying to balance the two."
Marlon smiled. "Sounds a lot like Aristotle's balance of virtues."
As they continued browsing, Marlon suddenly paused. "Look," he said quietly, pointing to an old man sitting by the window, absorbed in his book.
"What about him?" Riri asked, following his gaze.
"I'm curious... someone like him must've read countless books. Maybe he knows something we haven't found yet."
Riri shrugged. "We'll see. For now, let's keep looking."
But before they could move, the old man suddenly spoke without looking up.
"You're searching for wisdom between sin and virtue?" His voice was raspy but calm.
Marlon and Riri exchanged glances.
The old man slowly closed his book and gave them a faint smile. "If you want to understand more deeply, I have a story that might change how you see the world."
Marlon was intrigued, while Riri looked unsure. The man patted the chair beside him, inviting them to sit. "You know," he said, gazing out the window, "sin and virtue are more than words on a page. They are living stories."
"What do you mean?" Marlon asked, curiosity shining in his voice.
He stepped forward with growing interest. "We'd love to hear it," he said politely.
The old man shifted in his chair, gesturing for them to sit. "Many people think sin and virtue are just two sides of the same coin. But I've learned that sometimes, they're part of a much bigger story." He paused, eyes drifting out the window as if searching for inspiration. "Imagine a world where sin and virtue aren't separate—but depend on each other."
Riri tilted her head. "Like yin and yang?"
"Exactly," the old man replied, nodding. "There was once a group who believed just that. They were called the Gnostics. To them, knowledge was the path beyond both sin and virtue."
"Imagine a world," the man continued, "where sin and virtue took human form. They walked among us, carrying both conflict and harmony." His eyes sparkled as if seeing another realm.
Riri leaned forward, drawn in despite her hesitation. "So… like an allegory?"
The old man nodded slowly. "It all began when Pride decided it was better than the rest, shattering the balance. The Seven Sins became real entities, each with the power to shake the world. But," he paused, letting the words sink in, "the Seven Virtues were also born to restore balance."
"Sounds like an epic war," Riri murmured.
"Exactly," the man said. "But not a war like you think. Sin and virtue don't always fight—they sometimes need each other to find their true meaning."
Marlon leaned back in his chair, eyes shining with excitement. "So what happened next?"
The old man took a long breath, as if crossing time. "Pride became the leader of the Sins, tempting Envy with promises of power and Greed with endless riches. Wrath spread like wildfire, while Lust and Gluttony trapped people in an endless cycle. Sloth," his voice grew softer, "made many give up on life entirely."
Riri bit her lip, caught up in the tale. "And the Virtues? What did they do?"