The Bible describes pride as sin. Pride goes before destruction (Prov. 16:18), puts one in an undesirable relationship with God (1 Peter 5:5; James 4:6), and can yield a regrettable end (Prov. 29:23). Nebuchadnezzar was judged for his proud spirit (Dan. 4), Haman was beset with pride (Esther 5), and Pharaoh fell for doing it. God plans to humble the proud (Matt. 23:12).
Christian theologians have dealt with the very idea of pride mainly in the tradition of Augustine, who viewed pride as the first sin thereby spent a great deal of his energy on discussing it. The keystone of his argument was obviously a text in Ecclesiasticus that reads, “pride could be the beginning of sin.” The verse has later been regarded as questionable in meaning. Nonetheless, with this basis Augustine proceeded to watch nov Satan as portrayed in Ezekiel and Isaiah as principally motivated by pride. “Your heart became proud because of your beauty” (Ezek. 28:17, NIV). What led Satan to his fall was likewise the downfall with the mankind inside the garden of Eden. Augustine felt that pride in its extreme will be the unpardonable sin (Green, 1949). He wrote extensively about his very own struggles with pride, describing it his greatest temptation.
Study regarding pride been specifically the subject of great interest to Christians in monastic traditions and then towards the Pietists. Bernard of Clairvaux from the Steps of Humility declared people will take steps upward when they pursue humility; but if they pursue pride, their steps may lead downward, following the length of Satan. Bernard implies that you will find 12 steps which could lead one from your beginnings of pride-curiosity-to its worst type of expression, habitual sin. The intervening steps are frivolity, foolish mirth, boastfulness, singularity (going to all ends to show oneself superior), conceit, audacity, excusing of sins, hypocritical confession, defiance, and freedom to sin. Step one of pride (curiosity) may be the last step of humility (downcast eyes). The final step of pride (habitual sin) medicine foundation true humility (the worry with the Lord).
Bernard’s outline is usually sermonic in tone and designed just as one instructive tool for aspiring monastics. But with its medieval format, his description of pride rings true. Modern psychology doesn’t have much to enhance his outline. Pride elevates the self, seeks to possess one’s worth recognized by others, and it is unaware of obvious personal faults. The proud person has difficulty functioning interpersonally, since they does not receive or process feedback from others inside a satisfactory manner. Nor does the proud person fare well within the task to be other-centered. Pride forms a vital consider the psychological construct of narcissism.
Pride, psychologically considered, is defensive as the name indicated. Obviously pride is very little fair and true estimate of self; it’s an overestimate. To ensure the proud body’s motivated to hide a subconscious sense of inferiority or possibly motivated to overcompensate for actual inadequacies. Pride might be section of an ill-formed approach to social interaction; the proud person may genuinely feel her or his pride is the most effective way to managing self among others and may even be unacquainted with flaws that preclude the pride. Pride thrives on deference and praise from others. It might have its roots in parental overindulgence or perhaps in a credentials that created deep personal insecurities which is why the pride is compensating.
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