The Bible describes pride as sin. Pride goes before destruction (Prov. 16:18), puts one out of an unhealthy relationship with God (1 Peter 5:5; James 4:6), and definately will 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 because of it. God promises to humble the proud (Matt. 23:12).
Christian theologians have managed the very idea of pride mainly within the tradition of Augustine, who viewed pride because first sin and therefore spent plenty of his energy on discussing it. The keystone of his argument was a text in Ecclesiasticus that reads, “pride may be the start of sin.” The verse has later been viewed as questionable in meaning. Nonetheless, about this basis Augustine proceeded to see december Satan as portrayed in Ezekiel and Isaiah as principally motivated by pride. “Your heart became proud out of your beauty” (Ezek. 28:17, NIV). What led Satan to his fall was likewise the death of the human race within the garden of Eden. Augustine felt that pride in their extreme may be the unpardonable sin (Green, 1949). He wrote extensively about their own struggles with pride, describing it as being his greatest temptation.
Study regarding pride has been the main topics great interest to Christians in monastic traditions and then on the Pietists. Bernard of Clairvaux from the Steps of Humility said that people will take steps upward should they pursue humility; but if they pursue pride, their steps may lead downward, pursuing the span of Satan. Bernard suggests that there are 12 steps that can lead one through the beginnings of pride-curiosity-to its most unfortunate expression, habitual sin. The intervening steps are frivolity, foolish mirth, boastfulness, singularity (planning to all ends to show oneself superior), conceit, audacity, excusing of sins, hypocritical confession, defiance, and freedom to sin. The first step of pride (curiosity) could be the last step of humility (downcast eyes). The very last step of pride (habitual sin) medicine first step toward true humility (worries from the Lord).
Bernard’s outline is actually sermonic in tone and designed just as one instructive tool for aspiring monastics. Though it’s medieval format, his description of pride rings true. Modern psychology won’t have much to enhance his outline. Pride elevates the self, seeks to own one’s worth identified by others, and is also blind to obvious personal faults. The proud person has difficulty functioning interpersonally, since he or she does not receive or process feedback from others within a satisfactory manner. Nor will the proud person fare well from the task of being other-centered. Pride forms an integral aspect in the psychological construct of narcissism.
Pride, psychologically considered, is defensive as the name indicated. By definition pride is not a fair and true estimate of self; it becomes an overestimate. To ensure the proud body’s motivated to cover a subconscious a sense inferiority or perhaps is motivated to overcompensate for actual inadequacies. Pride could be section of an ill-formed method of social interaction; the proud person may genuinely feel his / her pride to be the ultimate 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 may well have its roots in parental overindulgence or perhaps in a background that created deep personal insecurities for which the pride is compensating.
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