Pride

[RJUKL]

Is pride the original sin? The meek shall inherit the earth. Humility is a good characteristic to have.The people I have met in my life who have made a lasting impression on me have all been people who showed humility (and not the Uriah Heep type). Those assertive and confident that they have all the answers are abrasive and unsettling whereas the others emit peace and restfulness.

[beso]

Me too. I have always found it difficult to endure the arrogance of those who assert that an ancient religious book has the answers to all of humanity's problems and needs. It is particularly annoying when the books unambigously promote fascist, amoral values that often lead to psychoses.

[naomi24]

In my opinion the concept of 'sin' is a blight on the human intellect. Rather than pride, I think what you're talking about is arrogance, which I would agree isn't an attractive quality in anyone.

[MarkRae]

Hear! Hear!

[Ankou]

perhaps alongside arrogance you could pin intolerance.

[Old_Geezer]

Oh bad me, I take a pride in everything I do.

[beso]

Intolerance is tricky. I am unashamedly intoleratant of of facism.

[Androcles]

Is it not a question of definition? There is nothing wrong with "taking pride in your work", which means doing a good job. There must be a scale of pride which takes it from this level to taking such pride that the person who does so will accept no criticism or acknowledge that others may be as good?

[123everton]

Was this inspired by the show on Channel 4 last night?
I agree with Beso, the only addition I would make is that I feel it is wrong to use any book as a reason to abuse humanity, al life for that matter.

[Ankou]

i suppose you are right beso, and you can take pride in that fact

[naomi24]

As Androcles says, the important thing here is in the interpretation of the words 'pride' and 'arrogance' - two entirely different things.

[beso]

The meek won't inheret the earth. Our ancestors massacred them long ago.

[Ankou]

serves em right for being meek. only the strongest survive - natural selection and all that

[chakka35]

Another misinterpretation of evolution, Ankou, making 103,762 on this site so far (from memory). Evolution does not say that only the strongest survive.

[Rev Sermon]

Ankou,

That's my favourite post of the year so far, hilarious.

To add to what's been said above, isn't it also a question of degree, if, for example, someone saw a man beating up his wife and called the ploice that would be to my mind a praiseworthy example of intolerance whereas if someone didn't like someone elses view point say on religion and demanded they were banned from AB forever that would be excessive intolerance.

Similarly being quietly satisfied with a job well done and taking an advert out in the times to the tell the world how wonderful you are are both examples of pride.

From my personal view, surely pride is generally faily harmless, if I was to write a "Holy Book of Words" I'd downgrade it to a very minor misdemeanour.

[beso]

There is no harm in a little pride in one's beliefs and achievements if they have a basis in rational consideration.

Prejudice (literally: to pre-judge, without observation of fact) is the real problem.

The holy books are the embodiment of prejudice.

These books are claimed by the believers to have all the answers regardless of their conflict with observation. The worshippers will deny anything, no matter how well supported, and insist that we accept their illusionary "truth" on the basis of what was written by an ancient, deluded Arab.

It is a bizarre perspective on life and has no place in developing the principles of sentient morality. Religion supplants intelligence with bigoted ignorance and does not deserve a modicum of our respect.

[Ankou]

thanks rev, i would take a bow but i am busy thinking up a suitable comment for number 103,763

[chakka35]

Oh please, Ankou, don't bother looking for new ones. How about No. 207, which is "If man descended from apes, why are there still apes?"