Gluttony
We all consume.
For anything to become something else, a transaction of energy must occur. To move, speak or think, the human must consume food, water and air. To not have anything to consume, it means death. This has been considered truth since we began calling ourselves homo sapiens.
Yet, we seem to grow more and more blind to the third statement. Believing that no matter how much we consume, more will always be available. Idealizing that each of us has the chance to consume vastly more than others. Glorifying those that can afford to.
This growing blindness is driving us closer and closer to the consequences. Acting as if we are birthed with the right of consuming, we fail to notice that our food, water and air are running out. A point comes, we look beneath us and realize: we are standing on nothing, and we cannot consume nothing. Death awaits us.
But such powerful blindness is not a natural cause. We always knew of this vulnerability, so we made sure to spread awareness. It was placed amongst the Seven deadly sins. It was discouraged by the Four Noble Truths. It was criticized in the Sunnah. Yet, it still emerged, and it emerged as never before. It was exploited.
This blindness, it has a name. Gluttony. It is taboo, never to be mentioned. Call upon its name, and you will be met with anger. "Who dares judge my Consuming preferences?", they answer. "With much effort I have worked to be able to Consume this much. I've earned the means to do it, so that is what I shall do." Indeed, they are right. They have money—the means—and they can do whatever they want with it, justifying optional.
Paradoxically, the life they had before was similar. They still consumed food, water and air, albeit slightly different. But, something motivated them to pursue the better. Even if they felt alright most of the time, a hole that could be filled only by desire would always be in the back of their mind. Better food, water and air, they desired. When they would obtain it, that hole would be filled. Yet, not much time passes, that hole forms again.
"It is my freedom to Consume whatever I want, however I want, whenever I want. I've earned the means to do it, so that is what I shall do." Indeed, they are right. They have the freedom to not use old phones, the freedom to not use second-hand clothes, the freedom to not taste less-than-perfect food. Why would they endure such things, if they can afford better? The blindness kept them away from looking at the real costs of the food, water and air they consumed. Their new clothes, best case used less than you can count with your fingers, were made in Bangladesh by children working in hell. "I have done my part in society. They will have it better when they also do their part in society. Then they will be able to afford to Consume like me." An Ouroboros of Consuming, they believed in. Each year, they would produce more, to consume more, to produce more, to consume more. Endless growth. To consume more is sought after by every politician, by every businessman, by every citizen. "We are very proud to announce that we had a very productive first quarter: the Consumers Consumed more than in the last quarter."
People would sell their knowledge online in the form of courses, convincing you that you must be able to consume a lot if you want to be someone in this world. In the background, their shiny new cars laid bare. "Just look at how much I Consume. To become like me, you must have an unwavering desire for more. That is what separates true Consumers from basic ones." Whenever they proudly turned back to take a look at their shiny new cars, their empty hole was showing.
But this powerful blindness, in its present form, was not always like this. As we know, the humans were wary of their weakness, but something must have happened recently that made them forget about it. It was the doing of those who consume the most. They became increasingly worried that they might not be able to consume more next year. Society was eyeing them from above. How could they not consume more? Why limit themselves? They have the means to do it, why not do it? They devised the perfect plan: turn the dreams of the people into something that is unattainable. Always show them that they could consume more. Something new every year. Something new every month. Something new every day. Shame those that do not have the means to consume—after all, it is their fault. They should learn to deal with it. Their plan was to make people completely unaware of Gluttony. Convert them to the religion of Consuming, seemingly compatible with the old religions. After all, they twisted the words enough to make it seem compatible. Now, they eye society from above.
Unaware that they can say no to more, the people continue to increase their consuming. A chance to increase your means is a chance to increase the consuming, always. They are proud of having such chance, and make sure to show it to others. They become cosplayers of consuming, brandishing themselves with logos. Food, water and air that is not interesting is to be avoided. Burdening themselves with so many things, they run out of space to store them. The consuming must increase, so the only solution is to get a bigger space to consume in. The Ouroboros of Consuming.
The hole of desire in humans is permanent. Yet, it is other humans that tell them to keep filling that hole. It is the other humans that indoctrinate them into this religion, normalize it and encourage it. Their time is running out, however. The place they stand on, Earth, is reflecting their actions back. The Earth is slowly becoming hell, and soon all consuming will stop. There will be no one left to consume.
Indeed, Gluttony will do that. Gluttony, ignored, will consume the consumer.