French intellectuals ask Pope to remove gluttony from list of 7 Deadly Sins

BBC On Line ^

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They argue that the French word for the sin - gourmandise - has changed its meaning over the years and is now used to denote a gourmet, someone who truly appreciates good food and wine, rather than a glutton.

They argue that the French word for the sin - gourmandise - has changed its meaning over the years and is now used to denote an avarice, someone who truly lusts for good food and wine, rather than a glutton.

[ffusco]

Likewise the French word for Lying means diplomacy, Treachery means flexibility.....

[bandleader]

Why doesn't this surprise me?I wonder which of"The Seven Deadly Sins"is the next "Target"of these Morally Relative,Socialist Back-Biters???

[mtbopfuyn]

"To be a gourmand is one of life's great pleasures. Gourmands don't just appreciate fine food and good wine, but they share it - and thus double the pleasure," Mr Bocuse smiles.

One bon-bon for Bocuse, two bon-bons for me - hey, just doubling my pleasure.

[DLfromthedesert]

I heard Bill Clinton petitioned the Pope to remove the sin of lust. He said that's what got him through a stressful presidency, and therefore, is a virtue.

[jae471]

I don't think its a matter of changing the Bible; its a matter of updating the translations.

Words shift in meaning:

A decoy is not a fake duck, but a pond.
A borough is not a city (or part of one), but a hill.
A Bureau is not an office, but a desk.
Old English doesn't exist; that's Old Saxon. (Oft We hwaet ne)
Calculus is not a type of math; its something on your teeth.
A University is not a college, but a corporation.

And finally,
A Frenchman is not a person of Frankish descent, but a cheese-eating surrender-monkey.

[longtermmemmory]

France has a "language police" to attempt to preserve the purity of the french language. I believe you can be fined for using words like "e-mail".

French is what killed eurodisney. It would have been more ecconomically viable as a english dominant park.

[50sDad]

Could replace it with French Arrogance (or is that redundant?)

[Graybeard58]

"French intellectuals ask Pope to remove gluttony from list of 7 Deadly Sins"


....... French Intellectuals???

[kaylar]

I thought that a gourmand was distinguished from a gourmet precisely because s/he is a glutton : A person who overindulges in food but with little discrimination or taste. A gourmet indulges in the finest wines and foods carefully chosen ; a gourmand pigs out on slop-junk food, fast food, badly prepared food, etc. I thought that wads the understood meaning of the two terms, which are NOT synonymous at all.

[StarCMC]

French intellectuals???

Definitely an oxymoron in my book - that was what I thought as soon as I saw the title of this article!

[per loin]

Nice photo of the official French SWAT team, practicing their swatting movements.

[Salman]

OK it's official. Being French is a deadly sin.

[RightWhale]

Is that a deadly sin, or a venial sin? Makes a difference.

[StarCMC]

French Military Forces in Training! LOL!

[bicycle thug]

My pleasure, two weeks ago the Oregon Ducks massacred the Michigan Wolverines. They must have been too gluttonous after this feat because Washington Cougars dined on Duck like gluttons themselves and set a new record pointwise for a loss at Autzen Stadium.

If there is a moral in it concerning excess and success and the sin involved in it it must be that you can lead a liberal party oriented university to a grand victory but they always will find a way not to stay there. ;-)

[firebrand]

"Deadly sin" is not the same as "mortal sin." In fact, these are more aptly called the "seven capital sins," IMHO.

[firebrand]

You are right. But consider the fact that there is now a cheese called gourmandise. I doubt the promoters of this cheese would like people to think of themselves as gluttons when they buy it. I think the meaning has suffered confusion with that of "gourmet" and has indeed changed.

It's sort of the opposite of what happens to euphemisms: they lose their positive connotations after a while and a new euphemism has to be invented; the word "gourmand" has lost its negative connotations for many people.