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In a recent conversation tried to recall the 7 Deadly Sins ( almost as difficult as naming all 7 Dwarves )One of them is Envy, which prompted further discourse on the difference/similarity of Envy/Jealousy. I remember an old Russian folk tale that astutely differentiated the two emotions. Although I always leaned towards the thought that Envy was material and Jealousy more towards the intangible.Any thoughts?
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I would agree as far as connotation, that envy was material, jealousy more towards the intangible. The dictionary hounds may answer for the denotation.
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You've got something I want: I envy you.
I've got something you want: I am jealous of it.
"I am jealous of you" seems to mix the two, and I now try to say envious in this case.
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If I'm jealous of you, I want to possess the thing (or person) you possess, whereas if I'm envious of you, I want to be in your (possessive) position, to be, as it were, like you.
The focus of jealousy is thus the object of my lust or avarice (to mention another couple of DSs), while the focus of envy is you, my rival.
Does this mean that jealousy is an objective sin, while envy is a subjective sin?
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Pooh-Bah
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It does raise the question as to why "Jealousy" isn't a deadly sin? Envy has so much in common with othe DS's, such as Gluttony, Lust and, especially, Covetousness that one feels that jealousy could quite well have been fitted in - make it up to the Nine Deadly Sins, why not? If we were to do that, what would be the Ninth? (The others are Pride, Anger and Sloth, to save you-all having to LIU - please don't ask how it is I know them all so well!) Given current context, how about verbosity? 
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If we were to do that, what would be the Ninth?
How about apathy? certainly it would not be mutually exclusive from sloth, but there's a whole realm of apathy... particularly for those peoples and places which don't directly affect our cushy lives for whom most of us don't give a ton of thought, let alone share our resources.
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Carpal Tunnel
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I always thought of jealousy as a transient emotion which may be overcome by rational thought ... whereas Envy eats away body and soul and may lead one to perpetrate irreversible actions.
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RhubarbCommando>>>>
It does raise the question as to why "Jealousy" isn't a deadly sin?
If there is a doctor in the house, please help us clarify this. I thought that serious jealousy is a people to people phenomenon and sometimes can be serious enough to need medical attention. I think, envy, sloth, Pride, anger, you can talk rationality into it but not jealousy. I thought that crimes of passion are mostly caused by jealousy.
Sorry to be so grim. Please correct me if I am wrong.
chronist
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It does raise the question as to why "Jealousy" isn't a deadly sin?
I wonder if it is because jealousy has a positive side. One can be, and indeed should be, jealous of one's own good name, but never envious of another's.
MaxQ, P.B., B.L.
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Jump in anytime, Father Steve!
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