>> THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS--
THEY EXIST IN EACH OF US.
>> THESE ARE
DEATH-DEALING SINS.
THEY WILL HAVE A SEVERELY
DAMAGING EFFECT
ON ONE'S SPIRITUAL LIFE.
ACCORDING TO CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY,
COMMITTING THESE DEADLY SINS
IS AS SIMPLE AS THINKING
ABOUT THEM.
>> SCRIPTURE SAYS
"THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH."
>> EACH OF THESE SINS
HAS A SECRET HISTORY
REVEALING HOW THEY CAME
TO BE DEADLY.
THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS
HAVE HAD AN ENORMOUS IMPACT
ON HISTORY, SOCIETY
AND OUR SOULS.
>> YOU CANNOT TRANSGRESS
GOD'S MORAL LAW WITHOUT SOMEONE
PAYING A TERRIBLE PRICE.
>> AND THE DEADLIEST SIN,
THE ONE THAT KILLS, IS ANGER.
>> THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS
ARE AN IMPORTANT
CHRISTIAN CONCEPT,
YET THEY DO NOT
ACTUALLY APPEAR
IN THE HOLY BIBLE.
THEY FIRST APPEAR
IN THE DESERTS OF EGYPT
MORE THAN 300 YEARS
AFTER THE NEW TESTAMENT
WAS WRITTEN.
IN ABOUT 375 A.D.,
A MONK NAMED
EVAGRIUS PONTICUS RETREATED
TO A CHRISTIAN MONASTERY.
THERE HE BEGAN
TO CATALOG THE TEMPTATIONS
TO THE HUMAN SOUL
CREATING A LIST
OF THE MOST DANGEROUS.
EVAGRIUS BELIEVED
HE COULD NARROW THE LIST
TO EIGHT TERRIBLE TEMPTATIONS.
AND ANGER WAS THE DEADLIEST.
EVAGRIUS BELIEVED
THAT ANGER'S GREATEST EVIL
WAS THAT IT BLINDED MEN.
HE WROTE--
THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS
WOULD NOT BE CODIFIED
UNTIL 590 A.D.,
WHEN POPE GREGORY THE GREAT
RE-EXAMINED THE LIST
OF EVAGRIUS.
>> HE NARROWED THE LIST
TO SEVEN, CHANGED THEIR NAMES
FROM TEMPTATIONS TO SINS
AND PROCLAIMED THEY WERE DEADLY.
>> TO POPE GREGORY
ANGER WAS NOT ONLY SINFUL,
IT WAS COSTLY TO THE SOUL.
HE WROTE--
ANGER IS DEFINED
AS A DESIRE FOR VENGEANCE.
THE BIBLE DESCRIBES
THE EFFECTS OF ANGER
NUMEROUS TIMES
AND THREE DIFFERENT
BIBLICAL STORIES
ACTUALLY REVEAL THE EVOLUTION
OF THE SIN OF ANGER.
>> IN GENESIS,
THE FIRST BOOK
OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
OR HEBREW BIBLE,
NO ONE SEEMS ANGRIER THAN GOD.
IN CHAPTER SIX,
GOD IS AT HIS ANGRIEST
AT HIS GREATEST CREATION
AND DECIDES TO WIPE THE SLATE
CLEAN.
>> HE SENDS A TERRIBLE RAIN
AND FLOOD TO EARTH
FOR 40 DAYS AND NIGHTS
DECLARING "EVERY LIVING
SUBSTANCE THAT I HAVE MADE
I WILL DESTROY FROM OFF THE FACE
OF THE EARTH."
GOD ALLOWS
ONLY ONE RIGHTEOUS MAN
AND HIS FAMILY TO ESCAPE, NOAH.
>> THEN IN CHAPTER 11,
GOD UNLEASHES HIS WRATH AGAIN,
ONLY THIS TIME
GOD IS MORE PRECISE
AND TEMPERS HIS ANGER.
THE PEOPLE OF BABEL
BUILD A TOWER TO HEAVEN.
GOD FINDS THIS OFFENSIVE
AND ANGRILY DESTROYS
THE TOWER,
SCATTERING ITS PEOPLE
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
INSTEAD OF KILLING
ALL THE WORLD'S SPECIES,
GOD ONLY PUNISHES MANKIND.
>> GOD BECOMES
REALLY MAD SOMETIMES,
AND WATCH OUT WHEN HE GETS MAD
BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED
AND FAMILIES ARE OBLITERATED.
>> FINALLY IN CHAPTER 18
GOD FINDS FAULT
WITH HUMANITY AGAIN,
BUT THIS TIME
HE ONLY PUNISHES
THE SINFUL CITIES
OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH.
AN ANGRY GOD RAINS DOWN
FIRE AND BRIMSTONE FROM HEAVEN.
GOD LOCALIZES HIS ANGER.
HE HAS EVOLVED
FROM PUNISHING ALL CREATURES
TO JUST MANKIND
AND THEN ULTIMATELY
JUST THE RESIDENTS
OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH.
>> THERE IS A MESSAGE
TO BE FOUND
IN GOD'S WRATH
ACCORDING TO THEOLOGIANS.
>> I THINK THAT GOD'S ANGER
IS A WAY OF EXPRESSING
THAT GOD HAS INTENSE INVOLVEMENT
IN THE WAY HUMAN BEINGS
LIVE THEIR LIVES.
IN THE SAME WAY,
PARENTS GET ANGRY
WHEN THEIR CHILDREN
DO SOMETHING WRONG.
>> THESE STORIES
THAT HAVE TO DO
WITH, HOW DO WE LIVE
TOGETHER IN SOCIETY?
IT'S A FORM OF CROWD CONTROL
IN A WAY,
TO DIRECT PEOPLE TOWARD
PROPER KINDS OF ACTIVITIES
AND TO EXPLAIN THE EVENTS
THAT ARE GOING ON AROUND THEM
FOR GOOD OR FOR ILL.
>> THE OLD TESTAMENT
IS FULL OF ACCOUNTS
OF HUMAN BRUTALITY
AND ATROCITIES,
THE MURDER OF ABEL
BY CAIN IN GENESIS,
KING SAUL'S ATTACKS
ON DAVID IN THE BOOK OF SAMUEL.
THESE STORIES AREN'T
FOR THE FAINT OF HEART,
BUT THEY ARE MEANT
AS OBJECT LESSONS
ABOUT THE DEADLY CONSEQUENCES
OF THE SIN OF ANGER.
THE SECOND BOOK
OF THE BIBLE, EXODUS,
INTRODUCES THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
AND MARKS A SEISMIC SHIFT
IN HOW SINS ARE PERCEIVED.
>> THE GREAT INNOVATION
OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
AND THE THING THAT DISTINGUISHES
THEM FROM THE PAGAN CULTURES
THAT PREDATED THE BIBLE
IS THAT GOD CARES
HOW I TREAT YOU.
IN PAGAN CULTURES
GOD CARED HOW I TREATED GOD.
>> IN JUDAISM AND SUBSEQUENTLY
IN CHRISTIANITY,
MY RELATIONSHIP TO YOU
IS MY RELATIONSHIP
TO ANOTHER IMAGE OF GOD
AND SIN IS A VIOLATION
AGAINST GOD
WHETHER IT IS DIRECTED
AGAINST GOD OR IS DIRECTED
AGAINST YOU.
>> THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT READS
"THOU SHALL NOT KILL."
RELIGIOUS SCHOLARS VIEW THIS
AS A CLEAR MESSAGE FROM GOD
THAT THE SIN OF ANGER
HAS SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.
IRONICALLY, THE BEARER
OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS,
MOSES HIMSELF,
IS A VERY ANGRY MAN.
IN EXODUS,
MOSES WITNESSES AN EGYPTIAN
BEATING A HEBREW SLAVE
AND MOSES KILLS THE MAN
IN A RAGE.
LATER ON MOUNT SINAI,
MOSES RETURNS
WITH THE TWO STONE TABLETS
OF GOD'S TESTIMONY
AND FINDS THE ISRAELITES
WORSHIPPING A GOLDEN CALF.
HE BECOMES ANGRY
AND BREAKS THE COMMANDMENTS
TO PIECES
AT THE FOOT OF THE MOUNTAIN.
>> AND IT'S THIS
VERY KIND OF ANGER
THAT, IF IT IS ALLOWED
TO GO OUT OF CONTROL,
CAN BE VERY DAMAGING.
IN THIS CASE
IT'S DAMAGING ENOUGH
TO DESTROY THE TABLETS
SO THEY'VE GOT TO BE REPLACED
ONCE AGAIN.
>> IN EACH CASE
GOD DOES NOT PUNISH MOSES
BUT USES HIS ANGER
TO TEACH HIM
OF THE PITFALLS OF THE SIN.
>> IT BECOMES INTERESTING
IN THIS PARTICULAR STORY
TO SEE THAT MOSES IS ANGRY
BECAUSE IT IS A PART
OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE,
WE ALL BECOME ANGRY AT TIMES
AND TO STIFLE THAT OR DENY THAT
IS PSYCHOLOGICALLY UNHEALTHY
AND IS UNREALISTIC.
SO FOR MOSES TO BE ANGRY
AT A TIME LIKE THAT
IS PERFECTLY HUMAN.
>> THE OLD TESTAMENT'S VIEW
OF ANGER IS BEST REFLECTED
BY TRADITIONAL
JUDAIC UNDERSTANDING.
>> IN THE HEBREW BIBLE,
THE SIN IS WHAT ANGER LEADS TO.
SO WHEN ANGER LEADS
TO CRUELTY OR TO VIOLENCE
OR TO OPPRESSION
OR TO PERSECUTION,
THEN ANGER IS A SIN.
BUT WHEN ANGER
IS JUST AN EMOTION
THAT IS FELT
BY AN INDIVIDUAL
AND LEADS TO NO CONSEQUENCE,
IT IS PAINFUL AND POWERFUL,
BUT NOT SINFUL.
>> THE SIN OF ANGER
WOULD GET A NEW TWIST
IN THE CHRISTIAN BIBLE.
ONE OF THE FIRST STORIES
OF THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
CONCERNS THE KING OF ISRAEL
AND THE TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCES
OF HIS ANGER.
THE GOSPEL TELLS THE STORY
OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS,
BUT HEROD,
THE KING OF JERUSALEM,
LEARNS THAT A PROPHECY SAYS
THE NEW KING OF THE JEWS
HAS BEEN BORN.
THE POSSIBILITY OF A RIVAL
TO THE THRONE
SENDS HEROD INTO A RAGE.
>> HEROD IS ANGRY
BECAUSE HE IS CONCERNED
FOR HIS OWN RULE
BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE
A KING OF THE JEWS,
HE HEARD
THAT WAS IN FACT BORN SOMEWHERE,
AND WHEN HE WAS NOT ABLE
TO FIND OUT ABOUT THIS,
HE SIMPLY FLEW INTO A RAGE
AND BEGAN TO SLAUGHTER
ALL OF THE BABIES
WHO WERE OF THAT AGE
SO THAT HE COULD GET AT THE ONE
WHO MIGHT BE THE PRETENDER
TO THE THRONE.
>> THE STORY HAS BEEN CALLED
"THE SLAUGHTER
"OF THE INNOCENTS."
THE GOSPEL STATES
"HEROD SLEW ALL THE CHILDREN
"THAT WERE IN BETHLEHEM
"AND IN ALL THE COASTS
"THEREOF FROM TWO YEARS
AND UNDER."
JESUS ONLY SURVIVES
BECAUSE HIS FAMILY
FLEES TO EGYPT.
OF COURSE ANY ACCOUNT
THAT HAS TO DO WITH
THE SLAUGHTER OF BABIES
IS SO HORRIFIC
IN OUR UNDERSTANDING
THAT WE HAVE
A PARTICULAR KIND OF REVULSION
TO THAT KIND OF ACCOUNT.
>> AT THE SAME TIME
A NEW OF VISION OF SIN
AND ITS SOURCE WAS EMERGING IN
THE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN TRADITION.
WHAT COULD CAUSE
A PERSON TO COMMIT
THE INCOMPREHENSIBLE EVIL
OF KILLING INFANTS?
>> THE ANSWER FOR THE FAITHFUL
WAS SATAN.
SATAN IS A VAGUE
AND SHADOWY FIGURE AT FIRST.
BUT BY THE NEW TESTAMENT
THE FIGURE HAS EVOLVED
INTO A MUCH MORE
TERRIFYING FORCE,
THE TEMPTER OF MANKIND,
THE SOURCE OF ALL EVIL
IN THE WORLD.
>> SATAN IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
IS A RATHER MINOR CHARACTER.
SATAN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
IS MORE
OF A DEMON EXTRAORDINAIRE.
SATAN BECOMES THE FATHER OF LIES
AND SATAN IS THE ONE
WHO LURES US TO SIN.
>> AMONG SATAN'S GREATEST
TEMPTATIONS,
ARE RAGE AND VENGEANCE.
>> SATAN MEETS HIS MORTAL ENEMY,
JESUS,
WHO BRINGS A NEW COMMANDMENT
ABOUT THE SIN OF ANGER.
>> THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS
ARE THOUGHT TO BE
THE GATEWAY TO HELL
AND THE MOST VIOLENT
AND BLOODY OF THE SINS IS ANGER.
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
IT IS GOD THAT IS ANGRY,
SAYING IN THE BOOK
OF DEUTERONOMY
"VENGEANCE IS MINE."
IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
THE FIGURE OF SATAN
EMERGES AS THE DEMONIC
INCARNATION OF SIN,
ESPECIALLY THE SIN OF ANGER.
>> THE COUNTERPOINT
TO SATAN'S RAGE COMES
FROM JESUS. WHO TOOK
A RADICALLY DIFFERENT APPROACH
TO THE SIN OF ANGER.
>> JESUS SEEMS TO TAKE
THE COMMANDS
SUCH AS THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
AND HE SEEMS
TO RATCHET UP THE INTENSITY.
>> SOMETIME AROUND 30 A.D.
DURING HIS SERMON
ON THE MOUNT,
JESUS ENCOURAGED HIS FOLLOWERS
TO "TURN THE OTHER CHEEK."
IT'S SURPRISING ADVICE,
ESPECIALLY TO A JEWISH SOCIETY
BEING REPRESSED
BY A BRUTAL ROMAN OCCUPATION.
>> HE'S GIVING THEM
A WAY TO RESPOND
WITH DIGNITY AND SELF-WORTH
IN THAT KIND OF A CONTEXT,
AND THAT'S WHY
FROM TOLSTOY THROUGH GANDHI
THROUGH MARTIN LUTHER KING JR,
THOSE KINDS OF WORDS
HAVE BEEN WORDS
THAT HAVE BEEN
DEEPLY MOTIVATING
AS A WAY TO ALLOW PEOPLE
TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES
WITH DIGNITY AND WITH STRENGTH
WITHOUT RESORTING
TO ANGER AND VIOLENCE.
>> JESUS, IT SEEMS,
REFUSED TO GIVE IN
TO THE SIN OF ANGER
EVEN AS THE ROMANS TORTURED
AND CRUCIFIED HIM.
THE WRATH OF GOD
EVOLVED TO ITS DIVINE OPPOSITE.
INSTEAD OF CALLING
FOR RIGHTEOUS VENGEANCE,
JESUS, WITH HIS LAST BREATH,
WHISPERED, "FATHER, FORGIVE THEM
FOR THEY KNOW NOT
WHAT THEY DO."
>> IT'S A POWERFUL MOMENT
TO THINK
OF AN INNOCENT PERSON
WHO IS SUFFERING IN TORMENT
ON THE CROSS.
IT'S AN INCREDIBLE
KIND OF STATEMENT
ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE
TO RISE ABOVE VENGEANCE
AND RISE ABOVE ANGER.
>> THE CONDEMNATION
OF THE SIN OF ANGER
IS NOT UNIQUE TO CHRISTIANITY.
EVERY SINGLE RELIGION
IN THE WORLD
LABELS RAGE
A MAJOR TRANSGRESSION,
ALTHOUGH EACH
HAS ITS OWN UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE.
>> A RABBINIC STATEMENT
ABOUT ANGER
IS THAT ANGER IS LIKE
A BOILING TEA KETTLE.
ONCE IT OVERFLOWS,
YOU HAVE NO IDEA
WHERE IT'S GOING TO RUN
OR WHO IT'S GOING TO BURN.
>> ANGER IS CONSIDERED
A MAJOR SIN IN ISLAM.
THE PROPHET TOLD HIS FOLLOWERS
THAT THE BEST OF YOU
IS THE ONE WHO TAKES THE LONGEST
TO GET ANGRY
AND THE WORST OF YOU
IS THE ONE
WHO TAKES A LONG TIME
TO GET OVER THE ANGER.
>> WITHIN CHRISTIANITY,
THERE ARE DIFFERING OPINIONS
ON THE SIN OF ANGER.
>> IN PROTESTANT LAND
AND IN OUR HISTORY,
ANGER CAN BE A SIN.
IT'S NOT A SIN IN ITSELF.
IT'S WHAT YOU DO WITH IT.
>> THE CHURCH SAYS
THAT WE ALL HAVE PASSIONS.
PASSIONS LEAD TO SIN.
YOU CANNOT DESTROY PASSIONS
OR KILL PASSIONS.
THE PASSIONS ARE TO BE PURIFIED,
REDIRECTED, AND TRANSFORMED.
>> AND ALL VERSIONS
OF CHRISTIANITY AGREE
ON ONE THING,
SINNERS WHO DO NOT TRANSFORM
THEIR ANGER ARE DOOMED TO HELL.
>> HELL EVENTUALLY BECAME
THE COUNTERPOINT TO HEAVEN,
AND THE ETERNAL HOME
FOR THE SINFUL.
>> MOST BELIEVE THAT JESUS
WAS REFERRING TO HELL
WHEN HE SPOKE OF HADES.
BUT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
JESUS SPOKE
OF THE PLACE OF DAMNATION
WITH THE HEBREW WORD "GEHENNA."
>> ORIGINALLY GEHENNA REFERRED
TO A GARBAGE DUMP
OUTSIDE THE GATES OF JERUSALEM
WHERE PEOPLE BURN THEIR TRASH.
JESUS USED THE WORD
AS A SYMBOL OF THE FIERY FATE
THAT AWAITED ALL SINNERS.
>> YOU CAN HAVE YOUR JOY TODAY,
BUT WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU DIE?
>> THE CONCEPT OF HELL
EVOLVED AS A POWERFUL
SYMBOL OF RETRIBUTION.
>> IN FACT,
DIFFERENT RELIGIONS DEVELOPED
THEIR OWN WAYS
TO DEFINE AND EXPLAIN
THE FUNCTION OF HELL.
>> SO A PROTESTANT VIEW OF HELL
IS NOT SO MUCH THAT GOD
IS ROASTING PEOPLE OVER A FIRE
'CAUSE HE'S ANGRY.
IT'S SOMETHING MUCH MORE SAD.
IT'S PEOPLE KEEP FALLING IN
ON THEMSELVES FOREVER AND EVER.
>> THE EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH
TAKES A PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACH.
>> THE EASTERN CHURCH
SAYS THAT GOD SENDS
NO ONE TO HELL,
THAT HELL IS SELF-IMPOSED.
ONE OF THE GREATEST TEACHINGS
OF THE EASTERN CHURCH
IS ETERNAL MERCY AND COMPASSION
AS WELL AS JUSTICE.
>> IN ISLAM, HELL IS NOT
AN ETERNAL DESTINATION,
BUT A LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
>> THE QUR'AN DOES DESCRIBE
HELLFIRE AS UNPLEASANT,
BUT THERE'S A PSYCHOLOGICAL
ELEMENT AS WELL.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR US TO OVERCOME
OUR SHORTCOMINGS,
TO GROW IN OUR CHARACTER,
AS UNPLEASANT AS IT MAY BE
IN HELLFIRE
UNTIL THE POINT
THAT WE ARE PURGED FROM HELL
AND ENTER INTO HEAVEN.
>> PERHAPS THE MOST VIVID
DEPICTION OF HELL
WAS PENNED IN 1320 A.D.
BY THE ITALIAN AUTHOR
DANTE ALIGHIERI.
HIS INTENSE AND ELABORATE
PORTRAYAL OF ETERNAL DAMNATION
WOULD CAPTURE THE IMAGINATION
OF THE CHRISTIAN WORLD.
IN "THE DIVINE COMEDY"
DANTE DESCRIBES HIS JOURNEY
AS HE DESCENDS
INTO THE NINE LEVELS OF HELL.
>> SOME OF HIS DESCRIPTIONS
OF HELL ARE SO VIVID
THAT THEY'VE CAPTURED
THE IMAGINATION OF PEOPLE
FOR MANY YEARS.
>> DANTE'S JOURNEY IS TERRIFYING
BECAUSE HE WITNESSES
THE PENANCE FOR EACH DEADLY SIN.
IN EVERY CASE
THE PUNISHMENT FITS THE CRIME.
THE SIN OF ANGER
IS FOUND ON THE FIFTH LEVEL
IN THE SWAMP-LIKE WATER
OF THE RIVER STYX.
HERE THE WRATHFUL ARE
RUTHLESSLY BEATING ONE ANOTHER
AS THEY TRY TO PULL THEMSELVES
FROM THE RIVER.
DANTE WITNESSES
THEIR ANGRY ATTEMPTS
TO TEAR EACH OTHER
LIMB FROM LIMB.
>> DANTE'S VISION OF HELL
GUIDED CHRISTIAN THOUGHT
FOR CENTURIES,
EVEN THOUGH MOST OF THE DETAILS
CAME FROM THE POET'S MIND
AND NOT FROM SCRIPTURE.
>> THE CHRISTIAN INTERPRETATION
OF HELL WOULD EVOLVE AGAIN
WHEN MEDIEVAL DEMONOLOGISTS
BEGAN CATALOGING
HELL'S CITIZENS.
>> IN 1589 A.D.,
GERMAN BISHOP AND WITCH-HUNTER
PETER BINSFELD COMPILED
A DETAILED HIERARCHY OF DEMONS.
HE BELIEVED THAT
EACH OF THE SEVEN SINS
WAS ASSOCIATED
WITH A PARTICULAR DEVIL.
>> BINSFELD WROTE
THAT THE DEMONIC PRINCE
OF THE SIN OF ANGER
WAS NAMED AMON.
>> AMON WAS PROBABLY
A CORRUPTION OF AN ANCIENT
EGYPTIAN SUN GOD, AMUN,
WORSHIPPED AMONG THE PYRAMIDS
AS FAR BACK AS 1550 B.C.
BINSFELD DESCRIBED
THE DEMON OF ANGER
AS A FLAME-SPITTING MONSTER
WITH A RAVEN'S BEAK
AND THE TAIL OF A SERPENT.
HE TEMPTED MEN WITH POWER
AND DESTROYED THEM
BY THEIR OWN WRATH.
BUT BINSFELD THOUGHT
THERE WAS ANOTHER DEMONIC ENTITY
WHO ALSO CONTROLLED
THE SIN OF ANGER.
HE BELIEVED THE CHIEF DEMON
OF ANGER, WAS NONE OTHER
THAN THE MIGHTY KING OF HELL,
SATAN.
>> ANGER IS CONNECTED TO SATAN.
ANGER THAT IS MISDIRECTED
CAN LEAD TO VIOLENCE,
IT CAN EVEN LEAD TO MURDER,
AND SO IT'S PROBABLY
OUR MOST POWERFUL EMOTION.
AND SO IT'S NO SURPRISE
THAT WRATH IS CONNECTED TO SATAN
BECAUSE, OF ALL THE DEMONS,
SATAN IS THE MOST POWERFUL.
>> FOR CENTURIES,
THE FEAR OF SATAN AND DAMNATION
WERE CENTRAL TO SOCIETY'S
UNDERSTANDING OF SIN.
IN TODAY'S WORLD, SOME BELIEVE
THERE IS LITTLE RELEVANCE
TO THESE ANCIENT CONCERNS
ABOUT THE POWER OF HELL.
>> WE ALL KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT THE NATURE
OF THE UNIVERSE
AND WHAT'S UP THERE
AND WHAT IS DOWN THERE.
>> THERE ARE THOSE
WHO BELIEVE THE SIN OF ANGER
HAS LED TO A MANMADE CONCEPT
EVEN MORE DIABOLICAL:
THE REAL-LIFE INCARNATION
OF HELL ON EARTH, WAR.
>> THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS
DO NOT APPEAR
ANYWHERE IN THE BIBLE,
YET THE CHURCH DEVELOPED THEM
TO CODIFY ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR
AMONG THE FAITHFUL.
THE SIN OF ANGER
IS THE DEADLIEST,
AS IT CAN LEAD DIRECTLY
TO VIOLENCE,
BLOODSHED AND DEATH.
AS THE SIN OF ANGER
EVOLVED IN RELIGIOUS HISTORY,
IT REMAINED PART
OF HUMAN EMOTIONS.
>> THE WHOLE QUESTION
ABOUT ANGER HAS TO DO WITH
HOW CAN A NATURAL EMOTION
EVER BE CONSIDERED A SIN?
AND THE BIBLE WILL SAY
IT'S ONE OF DEGREE.
>> FOR HUMANITY
THE MOST DIRE RESULT
OF THE SIN OF ANGER
IS ALMOST CERTAINLY WAR.
>> WELL, I THINK ANGER
DEFINITELY DOES CAUSE WAR.
I THINK IT ALSO PROLONGS WAR
BECAUSE IT GENERATES
A CHAIN REACTION
THAT CAN SOMETIMES KNOW NO END.
>> THE CONNECTION
BETWEEN ANGER AND WAR
IS ACTUALLY OLDER
THAN THE HEBREW BIBLE,
DATING TO ONE OF THE OLDEST
PIECES OF LITERATURE
IN THE WORLD, THE ILIAD.
THE ILIAD IS THE STORY
OF THE TROJAN WAR.
TRADITION STATES
THE EPIC POEM WAS WRITTEN
BY THE GREEK POET HOMER
IN APPROXIMATELY
THE NINTH CENTURY B.C.,
BUT IT REFERS TO EVENTS
THAT MAY HAVE TAKEN PLACE
TWO-HUNDRED YEARS EARLIER
THE VERY FIRST WORD OF THE TALE
REVEALS ITS THEME, "WRATH."
>> IT'S ABOUT THE WRATH
OF ACHILLES
AND WHAT ACHILLES DID
AND THE WRATH
THAT COMES TO EXPRESSION
IN POWER AND IN SIGNIFICANCE,
BUT ALSO LEADS
TO HIS OWN DESTRUCTION.
>> AS THE EPIC UNFOLDS,
THE TROJAN WAR
HAS GROUND TO A HALT
BECAUSE OF THE ANGER
OF THE GREEK HERO, ACHILLES.
BUT HE IS NOT ANGRY
AT THE ENEMY.
INSTEAD, HE IS ANGRY
AT HIS OWN COMMANDER
FOR TAKING AWAY
A BELOVED SLAVE GIRL BRISEIS.
ACHILLES WITHDRAWS
FROM THE FIGHT,
LEAVING THE GREEKS
TO SUFFER TERRIBLE DEFEAT.
IT IS ONLY WHEN ACHILLES'
BEST FRIEND IS KILLED
THAT HE REFOCUSES HIS ANGER
AND REJOINS THE BATTLE.
>> FOR CENTURIES,
THE TALE OF THE TROJAN WAR
HAS BEEN A LESSON
IN HOW THE SIN OF ANGER
CLEARLY LEADS TO SELFISHNESS,
DISHONOR, AND EVENTUALLY DEATH.
IN 480 B.C.,
A LATER GENERATION
OF GREEK WARRIORS
WOULD TAKE THIS LESSON TO HEART.
>> THE SOLDIERS OF SPARTA
WERE WIDELY CONSIDERED
THE GREATEST FIGHTERS
OF THE ANCIENT WORLD,
LEGENDARY FOR THEIR
HEROIC BATTLE
AGAINST THE PERSIAN INVASION
AT THERMOPYLAE.
YET THE SPARTAN APPROACH
TO BATTLE WAS UNORTHODOX.
>> WE ARE TOLD,
COUNTERINTUITIVELY,
THAT BEFORE THE SPARTANS
WOULD ENTER THE BATTLE,
THEIR COMMANDERS WOULD HAVE
MUSICIANS COME AND PLAY SOFT,
TRANQUILIZING, SERENE MUSIC
IN ORDER TO CALM THEM DOWN
BEFORE THEY WENT INTO BATTLE.
AND THE BASIC LOGIC OF THIS
WAS THE SPARTANS FELT
THAT, NUMBER ONE,
TO BE BRAVE IN BATTLE,
YOU DON'T NEED ANGER.
>> IN ORDER TO KILL,
THE SPARTANS TRIED
TO AVOID THE SIN OF ANGER,
CHOOSING INSTEAD
TO FOCUS ON CALM DETERMINATION.
THE EVOLUTION OF THE SIN
OF ANGER WOULD CONTINUE
AS CHRISTIANITY BECAME
THE DOMINANT RELIGION
OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.
THERE WAS MUCH DEBATE
IN THIS PERIOD
OVER THE SIN OF ANGER
AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO WAR.
SOME BELIEVED THAT WAR COULD BE
JUSTIFIED ONLY IF ONE WAS
PROTECTING THE INNOCENT.
OTHERS SAID, ANY TIME ANGER
RESULTED IN WAR, IT RAN COUNTER
TO THE LAWS OF GOD.
THERE IS NO CLEAR MESSAGE
ABOUT THIS IN THE BIBLE.
IN FACT, HISTORY
IS RIFE WITH EXAMPLES
OF TERRIBLE, DESTRUCTIVE WARS
FOUGHT ONLY AS THE RESULT
OF THE ANGRY DEBATE
ABOUT RELIGIOUS VIEWS.
>> PEOPLE HAVE NEVER LACKED
JUSTIFICATIONS TO KILL.
IF THEY'RE RELIGIOUS,
THEY'LL USE RELIGIOUS
JUSTIFICATIONS.
IF THEY'RE NATIONALISTIC
THEY'LL USE NATIONALISTIC
JUSTIFICATIONS.
>> TODAY, THE MILITARY VIEW
ON ANGER IS SIMILAR
TO THE SPARTAN VIEW.
MARINE FIRST SERGEANT
WILLIAM BODETTE HAS SERVED
THREE TOURS OF COMBAT DUTY.
>> WHEN WE GET READY
TO GO INTO COMBAT,
WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THE ENEMY,
TO GET FIRED UP
LIKE BEFORE A FOOTBALL GAME.
I'M NOT EVEN WORRIED
ABOUT THE ENEMY.
I'M WORRIED ABOUT MY MARINES.
AS LONG AS I KNOW THAT
WE'RE PREPARED OURSELVES,
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO WE FIGHT.
I DON'T HAVE TO LOOK
AT THEM AS SUBHUMANS.
>> SERGEANT BODETTE
DOESN'T EVER WANT TO SEE
THE SIN OF ANGER BOIL OVER
ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
>> I'VE ACTUALLY HAD TO PICK UP
ONE OF MY MARINES' HANDS
THAT I FOUND
ABOUT A HUNDRED METERS
FROM WHERE HE DIED,
YOU KNOW.
AND WAS I MAD?
OH, YEAH.
I WAS REAL MAD.
I WAS PISSED OFF.
BUT I REFOCUSED IT
ONTO SOMETHING ELSE,
AND SAID OKAY,
THIS HAPPENED,
NOW I GOTTA FOCUS ON MY JOB.
BECAUSE IF YOU LET
YOUR EMOTIONS GET TO YOU,
WHILE YOU'RE IN COMBAT,
YOU'RE A DEAD MAN.
>> TO REMOVE ANGER
FROM THE EQUATION IN BATTLE
MARINE RECRUITS ARE SUBJECTED
TO EXTREME STRESS EVERY DAY,
BEGINNING THE DAY THEY JOIN.
THIS WAY, THEY LEARN
HOW TO REFOCUS THEIR EMOTIONS.
>> I CAN HONESTLY
TELL YOU THIS,
EVERY TIME I'VE BEEN IN COMBAT,
I HAVE NEVER SEEN
A UNITED STATES MARINE
LOSE HIS TEMPER
AND LOSE CONTROL.
I'VE NEVER SEEN IT.
>> BODETTE BELIEVES THAT
CONTROLLING ANGER
GIVES HIS MARINES THE EDGE
OVER THE UNTRAINED TROOPS
THEY'RE BATTLING.
>> I'VE SEEN INSURGENTS GET MAD,
RUN OUT IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE OPEN,
SHOOT, GET ANGRY
AND THINK THEY'RE GOING
TO BE A HERO.
AND IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.
THEY END UP DEAD.
>> MAN HAS ARGUED FOR THOUSANDS
OF YEARS WHETHER KILLING
ON THE BATTLEFIELD
IS A MANIFESTATION
OF THE SIN OF ANGER.
FOR BODETTE,
THERE IS NO QUESTION.
>> EVERY TIME
I'VE WENT INTO COMBAT,
I'VE BELIEVED
EVERY SINGLE TIME,
THAT WHILE I WAS DOING IT,
THAT IT WAS RIGHT.
PEOPLE MAY THINK IT'S MURDER.
IT'S NOT MURDER.
>> ACCORDING TO RELIGIOUS
SCHOLARS, THERE IS
ONE KEY ELEMENT MISSING.
>> THE THING ABOUT A SOLDIER
THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN MURDER
IS HE HAS NO PERSONAL MALICE
AGAINST THE ENEMY AND HE HAS
NOTHING TO GAIN FROM IT.
MURDER, ON THE OTHER SIDE,
IS WHERE I SO HATE YOU OR DON'T
WANT YOU OR I WANT YOUR MONEY
OR SOMETHING THAT I TAKE
YOUR LIFE FROM YOU.
>> THE SIN OF ANGER
MAY HAVE LITTLE TO DO
WITH THE JUSTIFICATION
FOR WARFARE.
WHAT ABOUT WHEN ANGER ERUPTS
IN OUR OWN BACKYARD
AND RESULTS IN HOMICIDE?
STRANGELY ENOUGH,
LAWYERS AND NEUROLOGISTS
BOTH AGREE THAT SOMETIMES
MURDER CAN BE FORGIVEN.
>> THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS
WERE COMPILED BY THE CHURCH
AS A GUIDE OF WHAT TO AVOID
ON THE PATH TO HEAVEN.
THE DEADLIEST OF THESE SINS,
THE ONE THAT MOST OFTEN
RESULTS IN BLOODSHED
IS THE SIN OF ANGER.
THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY
OF AMERICA, THERE HAS
ACTUALLY BEEN ONE
PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE REASON
TO ALLOW THE MANIFESTATION
OF ANGER TO RESULT IN MURDER.
IT IS CALLED
"A CRIME OF PASSION."
>> GENERALLY WE THINK
OF CRIMES OF PASSION
AS HAVING TO DO
WITH ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS
OR MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIPS.
THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE THE KIND
OF ANGER MOST OFTEN
THAT WILL GENERATE
VERY BRUTAL VIOLENCE.
>> IT WAS IN 1859,
IN WASHINGTON D.C.,
WHEN THE CRIME OF PASSION
FIRST ENTERED
AMERICAN PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS,
WITH THE ACTIONS OF WEALTHY
AND RESPECTED CONGRESSMAN,
DANIEL SICKLES.
>> HE DISCOVERED THAT HIS WIFE
WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR
WITH PHILIP BARTON KEY,
WHO WAS THE SON
OF FRANCIS SCOTT KEY,
AND HE JUST WAS
SO ANGRY ABOUT IT
THAT HE TOOK OUT HIS PISTOLS,
HE PLANNED THE MURDER.
>> ARMED WITH TWO PISTOLS
AND ACCOMPANIED
BY HIS BEST FRIEND,
SICKLES CONFRONTED PHILIP KEY
ON THE STREETS
OF WASHINGTON D.C.
>> HE SHOT HIM
ONCE IN THE CHEST
AND THEN, WHILE THE WOUNDED MAN
PLEADED FOR MERCY,
SICKLES PUMPED TWO MORE BULLETS
INTO HIM.
>> THE GUNFIRE WAS SO CLOSE
TO THE WHITE HOUSE
THAT SICKLES' FRIEND,
PRESIDENT JAMES BUCHANAN,
HEARD THE SHOTS.
SICKLES IMMEDIATELY CONFESSED
AND WENT TO JAIL.
HE WAS CHARGED
WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER,
YET A TEAM OF TOP LAWYERS
AND SEVERAL LEADING POLITICIANS
AGREED TO SERVE
AS HIS DEFENSE ATTORNEYS.
>> THE CRUX OF THE DEFENSE
WAS TEMPORARY INSANITY.
THEY SAID IT WAS POSSIBLE
UNDER THE LAW FOR A PERSON
TO BE TEMPORARILY INCAPABLE
OF KNOWING RIGHT FROM WRONG,
AND AFTER THE CRIME IS COMMITTED
ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY KNOW
RIGHT FROM WRONG AGAIN.
>> THE JURY ACQUITTED SICKLES.
THE PUBLIC WAS MORE OUTRAGED
BY SICKLES' FORGIVENESS
AND RECONCILIATION
WITH HIS WIFE
THAN BY THE MURDER
AND UNORTHODOX ACQUITTAL.
>> HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON
IN AMERICAN HISTORY
WHO SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDED
HIMSELF ON THE GROUNDS
OF TEMPORARY INSANITY.
I THINK HE SHOULD HAVE
DONE TIME AND PLENTY OF IT
FOR WHAT HE DID.
BUT YOU GET THE FEELING
THAT MANY PEOPLE FEEL
THAT THIS KIND OF ANGER
IS UNDERSTANDABLE.
>> THEY CAN IMAGINE
HOW THEY MIGHT FEEL
IF SUDDENLY THEY WERE CONFRONTED
WITH THE FACT THAT THEIR SPOUSE
WAS UNFAITHFUL.
>> THE SINS OF SICKLES
WOULD HAVE A LONG-TERM EFFECT
ON AMERICAN LAW.
>> IN TEXAS,
IT WAS THE LAW FOR A LONG TIME
THAT IF YOU CAUGHT YOUR SPOUSE
IN THE ACT OF HAVING SEX
WITH SOMEONE ELSE,
YOU HAD THE RIGHT TO SHOOT
THAT OTHER PERSON
BECAUSE THEIR SENSE
WAS THAT YOU WOULD BE
SO JUSTIFIABLY ANGRY
AND SO OVERWHELMED WITH RAGE
THAT ANY NORMAL PERSON
WOULD KILL IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCE.
>> SOME BELIEVE THAT
THE TEMPORARY INSANITY DEFENSE
IS NOTHING MORE
THAN A CLEVER TRICK,
A LEGAL LOOPHOLE,
FOR SUCCUMBING
TO THE SIN OF ANGER.
>> TODAY, SCIENTISTS ARE
BEGINNING TO EXAMINE EXACTLY
WHERE ANGER COMES FROM.
>> THE BRAIN PERCEIVES
A LOT OF INFORMATION,
BOTH FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD
AND FROM INSIDE THE BODY,
AND THERE IS ONE PART
OF THE BRAIN
CALLED THE AMYGDALA
THAT SERVES THE FUNCTION
OF SIFTING THROUGH
ALL THAT INFORMATION
AND ASKING ONE QUESTION,
IS THIS A THREAT,
IS THIS SOMETHING
I SHOULD WORRY ABOUT?
>> DR. RUBEN GUR HAS ZEROED IN
ON THE AMYGDALA,
AS THE KEY INSTIGATOR OF ANGER.
THIS WALNUT-SIZED LOBE
CAN QUICKLY OVERWHELM THE BRAIN
WITH UNCONTROLLABLE RAGE.
>> ONCE THERE IS
A PERCEPTION OF DANGER,
THERE IS A CASCADE
OF RESPONSES IN THE BODY
THAT INCLUDES CHANGES
IN HEART RATE,
IN BLOOD PRESSURE,
IN SWEATING,
IT MAKES YOUR BODY READY
TO FIGHT OR FLEE.
>> THE AMYGDALA
IS A PRIMITIVE PART
OF THE BRAIN.
IT EXISTS
BECAUSE THE HUMAN BRAIN
IS MADE UP OF LAYERS
THAT WERE ADDED
ON TOP OF EACH OTHER
OVER THE MILLIONS OF YEARS
OF EVOLUTION.
>> ALL THOSE OTHER OLDER BRAINS
ARE STILL ALIVE AND WELL
INSIDE YOUR OWN BRAIN.
SO YOU HAVE A PART OF YOU
THAT THINKS LIKE A DOG
AND YOU HAVE A PART OF YOU
THAT THINKS LIKE A CROCODILE,
AND A PART OF YOU
THAT THINKS LIKE A MONKEY.
>> THE AMYGDALA CREATES
AN AUTOMATIC FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT
RESPONSE TO THREATS.
BUT HUMAN BEINGS HAVE EVOLVED
ANOTHER PART OF THE BRAIN,
THE FRONTAL LOBES.
>> THIS AREA THAT YOU CAN SEE
HERE IN THE FRONT
IS THE ORBITAL FRONTAL REGION,
AND THE ORBITAL FRONTAL REGIONS
ARE LIKE BRAKES
FOR THE AMYGDALA.
IF YOU CAN THINK
OF THE AMYGDALA
AS BEING THE ENGINE
FOR THE THREAT RESPONSE,
THE ORBITAL FRONTAL IS
THE BRAKES.
>> IF DR. GUR IS CORRECT,
THEN A PERSON
WHO IS OVERWHELMED
BY ANGER IS LITERALLY
"TEMPORARILY INSANE"
UNTIL HIS AMYGDALA
CAN BE CONTROLLED.
CASE IN POINT,
THE 2003 MURDER OF BETTY DODGE
BY HER SON JAMES ESSICK.
AT THE TIME OF THE CRIME,
ESSICK WAS AN ADULT
WITH MENTAL PROBLEMS,
WHO HAD MOVED IN
WITH HIS MOTHER.
THEIR RELATIONSHIP
DETERIORATED SO BADLY
THAT DODGE ASKED HER SON
TO MOVE OUT.
>> AND THAT SET HIM
INTO A PANIC AND HE GRABBED
A SCULPTURE THAT THEY HAD
AND BROKE IT ON HER HEAD
AND KEPT HITTING HER REPEATEDLY
UNTIL SHE WAS DEAD
AND THEN HE WENT
ACROSS THE STREET,
TURNED HIMSELF INTO THE POLICE.
>> DURING THE COURT CASE,
DR. GUR WAS HIRED
AS AN EXPERT WITNESS
AND ASKED TO EVALUATE
THE MENTAL CAPACITY OF ESSICK.
HE DID A COMPLETE NEUROSCAN
OF HIS BRAIN AND FOUND
THAT 30 TO 40 PERCENT
OF THE TISSUE WAS MISSING
IN THE ORBITAL FRONTAL AREA.
>> SO WHEN THE AMYGDALA
WAS SAYING, I AM IN DANGER,
I AM FURIOUS, ATTACK,
THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TISSUE
IN THE FRONT TO SAY,
CALM DOWN.
YOU HAVE BETTER WAYS
OF DEALING WITH THE SITUATION
THAN ATTACKING WHAT YOU THINK
IS THE SOURCE
OF YOUR FEAR AND ANGER.
>> THE JURY AGREED
WITH DR. GUR'S TESTIMONY
AND RULED THAT JAMES ESSICK
WAS INNOCENT,
BY REASON OF INSANITY.
HE WAS SENT
TO A MENTAL HOSPITAL
FOR TREATMENT.
>> SOME MIGHT SAY
JAMES ESSICK WAS INCAPABLE
OF CONTROLLING HIS ABILITY
TO SIN.
>> THE ORGAN OF OUR MIND
AND WHAT CONTROLS OUR BEHAVIOR
IS THE BRAIN,
AND HIS BRAIN IS DAMAGED.
>> BUT BY THE TIME
AN ANGRY ACT RESULTS
IN PRISON OR A MENTAL HOSPITAL,
THE DAMAGE IS DONE.
>> IS THERE A WAY
TO TREAT HUMAN RAGE
BEFORE IT GETS TO THIS
CRITICAL BREAKING POINT?
HAVE GUIDED CHRISTIAN THOUGHT
FOR CENTURIES
AND WHILE THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES
FOR THE SINS OF LUST, GREED,
ENVY, PRIDE, GLUTTONY AND SLOTH,
PERHAPS THE DEADLIEST
CONSEQUENCES COME
FROM THE SIN OF ANGER.
>> WHEN WE'RE ANGRY,
WE LOSE CONTROL.
WHEN WE'RE ANGRY,
WE BORDER ON THE POSSIBILITY
OF PHYSICAL VIOLENCE.
WHEN WE FALL INTO THE PASSION
OF ANGER WE LOSE OURSELVES.
>> BUT PART OF THE TEMPTATION
OF ANGER IS THAT, IRONICALLY,
ANGER IS VERY SATISFYING.
>> IT CAN BRING PEOPLE
ALL THE WAY TO EUPHORIA.
ESPECIALLY MEN,
A LOT OF TIMES IT'S GOOD
TO FEEL ANGRY.
>> AND DESPITE CENTURIES
OF RELIGIOUS ATTEMPTS
TO CONTROL THE SIN OF ANGER,
TODAY IT IS EVERYWHERE.
>> I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT
FAITH WOULD DETER VIOLENCE
AND HELP US MANAGE OUR ANGER,
BUT THE FACT IS
THE UNITED STATES
HAS THE HIGHEST RATE
OF CHURCH ATTENDANCE
IN THE AFFLUENT WORLD,
THE HIGHEST RATE
OF BELIEF IN GOD,
AND WE HAVE BY FAR
THE HIGHEST MURDER RATE.
[SIREN]
>> THE CONCEPT OF THE SIN
OF ANGER HAS EVOLVED
OVER THE CENTURIES.
CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY ONCE SAID
THAT THOSE WHO COMMIT THE SIN
FACE THE ETERNAL FIRES OF HELL.
BUT THERE ARE SOME SINNERS
WHO ARE TORMENTED
BY ANGER, EVEN IN THIS LIFE.
>> I WAS IN A RELATIONSHIP,
THINGS DIDN'T GO WELL,
TO SUM IT UP
AND DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO HANDLE IT.
WENT AND BOUGHT
TWO GALLONS OF GASOLINE,
BROKE OUT THE WINDOWS
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAYTIME--
I LIVE IN AN APARTMENT COMPLEX--
FILLED HER CAR UP WITH GAS,
SET IT ON FIRE,
BLEW UP THE CAR
IN AN UNDERGROUND
PARKING GARAGE.
THE WHOLE PLACE
HAD TO BE EVACUATED
AND I COULD'VE KILLED
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.
>> I SNAPPED.
I BEAT HIM UP BAD ENOUGH
FOR THE COURTS TO SAY,
YOU KNOW WHAT,
FIVE YEARS' PRISON TIME.
>> THESE MEN AREN'T DEALING
WITH THEIR SIN
THROUGH CONFESSION
AND REPENTANCE,
BUT THROUGH ANGER MANAGEMENT.
THE SIN OF ANGER
IS SO WIDESPREAD IN SOCIETY
THAT THE CONCEPT
OF ANGER MANAGEMENT HAS ENTERED
THE POP CULTURE LEXICON.
ANUTZA BELLISSIMO
IS A SPECIALIST WHO HAS TREATED
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
WITH ANGER ISSUES.
>> ANGER IN TODAY'S SOCIETY,
I BELIEVE,
IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE.
LOOKING AT ONE SIMPLE STATISTIC
OF 18,000 ASSAULTS
BEING REPORTED PER WEEK
IN THE U.S.
I THINK ANGER
IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE.
>> BELLISSIMO SAYS THAT ANGER
IS NOT A DEADLY SIN,
BUT AN INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR.
>> I DO NOT BELIEVE
YOU CAN GET RID OF ANGER,
I FEEL THAT ANGER
IS A VERY NECESSARY
HUMAN EMOTION.
FOR ME, ANGER IS A RED FLAG.
FOR ME, ANGER IS A WAY
OF ACKNOWLEDGING
THAT THERE'S THINGS
THAT I'M NOT DEALING WITH.
>> EXPERTS SAY THAT THE KEY
TO OVERCOMING ANGER
IS LESS ABOUT CONTROLLING RAGE
AND MORE ABOUT
CREATING CONNECTIONS.
>> IF YOU TELL THEM
THIS ANGER IS DESTROYING
YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR WIFE
OR YOUR CHILDREN,
THAT SEEMS TO WORK.
>> HAVING A RELATIONSHIP,
THAT'S WHAT HUMANITY
IS ALL ABOUT,
OUR CONNECTION TO EACH OTHER.
>> TRADITION CLAIMS THAT
THE SIN OF ANGER IS PUNISHABLE
BY ETERNAL DAMNATION.
BUT BELLISSIMO FEELS
THIS RELIGIOUS APPROACH
IS USELESS
IN THE MODERN WORLD.
>> I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE
TO SCARE ANY ANGRY STUDENTS
FROM BEING ANGRY
BECAUSE THEY WOULD GO TO HELL.
I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE
TO USE THAT AS A TOOL.
>> BUT THERE ARE SOME
WHO WOULD ARGUE THAT POINT.
ONE IS A MAN NAMED
HOWARD STORM,
WHO FEELS HE HAS LEARNED
THE DEMONIC POWER
OF THE SIN OF ANGER.
IN 1985, HOWARD STORM
WAS A 38-YEAR-OLD ART PROFESSOR
WITH A SERIOUS ANGER PROBLEM.
>> I NEVER HURT MY WIFE
OR MY KIDS,
BUT I WOULD YELL
AND SCREAM AT THEM.
I WOULD TOSS THE KITCHEN TABLE,
WHICH WAS LOADED FOR DINNER.
YOU KNOW, TOSS THE TABLE
AND ALL OF ITS CONTENTS
ACROSS THE ROOM AND SMASH THINGS
AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> BUT WHILE ON A TRIP
TO PARIS, HOWARD STORM
FOUND HIMSELF
IN A HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM,
DYING OF A PERFORATED INTESTINE.
AS HE DRIFTED
IN AND OUT OF CONSCIOUSNESS,
HE REALIZED HE WAS NOT ALONE.
>> WHAT I EXPERIENCED
WAS AT FIRST
PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE ROOM
CALLING ME BY NAME
TO COME WITH THEM.
AND I SAID
"ARE YOU FROM THE DOCTOR,
"I'M VERY SICK,
I'M SUPPOSED TO HAVE SURGERY,"
AND THEY SAID, "HURRY UP,
"WE KNOW ALL ABOUT YOU,
"WE DON'T HAVE TIME
"FOR YOUR QUESTIONS,
COME WITH US."
>> IN A HALF-AWAKE STATE,
STORM WAS LED
DOWN A LONG HALLWAY.
SUDDENLY, WITHOUT WARNING,
HE WAS VICIOUSLY ATTACKED
FROM ALL SIDES.
ONLY AT THIS POINT
DID HE REALIZE HE WAS NO LONGER
IN A REAL HOSPITAL.
>> I'M FIGHTING
AS HARD AS I CAN FIGHT,
THE BEST I CAN FIGHT
TO BASICALLY JUST DEFEND MYSELF.
I'M JUST TRYING
TO KEEP FROM BEING HIT,
SCRATCHED, BITTEN,
PUSHED, KICKED,
AND IT'S COMING
FROM EVERY DIRECTION
IN THIS DARKNESS.
THERE AREN'T WORDS
TO DESCRIBE THIS.
SCARY, TERRIFYING, HORRIBLE,
ARE ALL COMPLETELY INADEQUATE.
>> AT THIS POINT,
STORM DID SOMETHING
THAT THIS ATHEIST
HAD NEVER CONSIDERED BEFORE.
HE BEGAN TO PRAY.
A BEAM OF LIGHT APPEARED
AND DELIVERED HIM
FROM THE ATTACKERS.
HE FOUND HIMSELF
BACK IN HIS HOSPITAL ROOM
ALIVE ONCE AGAIN.
HOWARD STORM BELIEVES
THERE WAS ONLY ONE EXPLANATION
FOR THIS NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE.
>> IN A WAY,
I THINK OF IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY.
I WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY
TO EXPERIENCE HELL.
>> AND ONCE HE HAD RECOVERED
FROM HIS MEDICAL ORDEAL,
STORM FELT
HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO CHANGE HIS RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE SIN OF ANGER.
>> EVER SINCE
MY NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE
I'VE NEVER HAD
THAT KIND OF RAGING,
THAT OUT-OF-CONTROL ANGER.
I'VE NEVER
EXPERIENCED THAT SINCE.
>> WHETHER STORM'S EXPERIENCE
WAS A LITERAL TRIP TO HELL
OR SIMPLY
A TERRIFYING HALLUCINATION,
IT HAD A PROFOUND EFFECT ON HIM,
TRANSFORMING HIS RELATIONSHIP
WITH HIS WIFE,
HIS FAMILY
AND HIS OWN EMOTIONS.
STORM FEELS THAT HIS
DANTE-LIKE EXPERIENCE
RECALLING A MEDIEVAL VERSION
OF THE EVOLUTION OF ANGER
MIGHT HAVE SOME BENEFIT
TO OTHERS.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT DRIVES ME,
TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST,
IS THAT I DON'T WANT ANYBODY
TO GO TO HELL.
AND I AM ON A MISSION
FROM GOD TO KEEP PEOPLE
FROM GOING TO HELL.
>> THE SIN OF ANGER
HAS EVOLVED OVER THE MILLENNIA
FROM THE WRATH OF A JUST GOD
IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS
TO THE FORGIVENESS OF JESUS
IN THE GOSPEL,
FROM DANTE'S PUNISHMENTS IN HELL
TO THE COURT-ORDERED ATTEMPTS
TO "MANAGE" THE DEADLY SIN.
IS THE SIN OF ANGER
THE DEADLIEST OF THE SEVEN SINS?
THE ANSWER MAY NOT MATTER,
FOR IN THE END,
WE WILL ALL BE JUDGED,
SOME BY OUR PEERS,
SOME BY A HIGHER POWER.
AND FOR THOSE TORMENTED
BY THE SIN OF ANGER,
THE SIN ITSELF MAY BE ENOUGH
TO CREATE HELL ON EARTH.
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