Injustice in Words: Derision

Derision is “making fun of a person.” It is”laughing a person to scorn.” In its serious form, thatis, when it is not a mere bit of banter, or a light joke, it seeksto shame a man.

Derision, when it is a jest or half-jest, may be only aslight offense and a venial sin, or perhaps no sin at all. But inits full character, as a serious and unjust attempt to bring shameon a person, derision is a mortal sin. It seems that derision, as agrave sin, is more evil than reviling.