Sloth and Diligence: Are We Scrolling Our Lives Away? The Seven Deadly Sins and Healing Virtues | Part 7 | By Fr. Joel Thompson ,SJ

Fr. Joel Thompson, SJ, of the Diocese of Georgetown, examined the sin of sloth and the virtue of diligence in the latest installment of a series on the seven deadly sins. He described spiritual sloth, or acedia, as the knowing neglect of good responsibilities and the tendency to view serving God as a burden.

Thompson noted that spiritual sloth can manifest as postponing a response to God, avoiding prayer, or neglecting those in need. He clarified that being busy does not prevent sloth, nor should tiredness, illness, or depression be mistaken for the sin. He also stated that feeling distracted or experiencing dryness during prayer does not necessarily mean a person is failing God.

The article addressed how social media scrolling can contribute to this spiritual state. Thompson explained that social media is designed to tap into brain reward systems to encourage use with little effort, often making it easier to watch videos than to engage in prayer or Church activities.