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spiritual envy
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spiritual envy

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Spiritual envy is a form of envy, one of the seven deadly sins in Roman Catholic theology. It is defined as resentment or sadness at another person's spiritual goodness or progress in holiness, coupled with a desire to possess it oneself. This is considered more harmful than material envy, which focuses on possessions or worldly advantages.12

Spiritual envy is seen as a sin against the Holy Spirit and is believed to lead to other sins and immoral actions. It is countered by the virtue of gratitude. Historically, envy has been depicted as a destructive force, contributing to events like the biblical stories of Cain and Abel, and Joseph's brothers selling him into slavery.1

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