On Melancholy. At the head of the hierarchy of sins held by the Elizabethan religious orthodoxy lies the sin of despair. Despair represents a refusal or inability to enter into relationship with God, and, as a result, a distancing from God's grace.

Why is sloth a sin?

Sloth can indicate spiritual laziness

It is a weariness or boredom of the soul that leads to despair. ... Sloth is a sin against God's love in that it goes so far as to refuse the joy that comes from God and to be repelled by divine goodness.

What is the sin of acedia?

Acedia comes from Greek, and means “a lack of care.” It sounds a little like today's sloth, and acedia is indeed considered a precursor to today's sin of laziness.