Lewis identifies the most important virtue as courage because without courage you can’t practice the rest of the virtues. Being virtuous only until it requires serious risk to yourself, shows that your virtues are fictitious. This concept became apparent during the vax mandate era. I used the CS Lewis quote about courage in my religious exemption letter to my company.
Here is the actual C.S. Lewis quote: “Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means at the point of highest reality. A chastity or honesty or mercy which yields to danger will be chaste or honest or merciful only on conditions. Pilate was merciful till it became risky.”
In the usual listing of the virtues, the word for courage is fortitude.
The Seven Deadly Sins:
Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, Pride
LUST- An insatiable need for sex or things of a sexual nature. This includes thoughts, desires, and actions. If this need is unfed, it can lead to masterbation, rape, and even beastiality. Lust is fed by any of the aformentioned means or viewing pornography.
Gluttony- Over endulgences of anything to the extreme, usually food or drink. Alcoholism is considered part of Gluttony. Drug abuse, Gluttony.
Greed- Greed is the need for material posessions or material wealth. If this need is unfed, a Greedy person may even resort to hoarding their goods, theft, robbery, or obtaining any material posessions by means of trickery, violence, deception, or manipulation. Greedy people usually are easy to bribe, or will take any bet or do anything for a dollar.
Sloth- Sadness, depression, or the inability to feel joy. Sloth is often confused with Gluttony, though I don't know why. Those who suffer from depression to an extreme usually have thoughts of or plans for suicide. Many times, Sloth can lead to another sin: Wrath. Those who have lost or lack love, usually fall into a deep state of Sloth.
Wrath- Extreme anger, rage, hatred, or a need for vengance or revenge. People who suffer with Wrath issues will often resort to taking the law in their own hands if they feel the justice system has failed them. To feed the need of Wrath, they may even turn to physical abuse of themself or others, murder, or even genocide. Wrath usually is a need to do harm to others. Dante described Wrath as "love of justice perverted to revenge and spite" according to the Wikipedia.
Envy- The need to have better or be better than others. The need to have the goods of others. Wanting what others have for yourself. Many times, someone with extreme Envous needs may turn to voyerism to feed the need to see what others have that the envious want.
Pride- Once considered a need to be the most beautiful, Pride can also mean a need for public acceptance in all acts. Pride can also be a need to be more important than others. Those who suffer with Pride issues, usually fail to give due complements to others, but instead fish for complements for them selves. They find ways to be better than those around them and usually have a "One Up" story. Pride is said to be the original and most deadly of the seven sins, leading straight to damnation.
Chastity- Courage and boldness. Embracing of moral wholesomeness and achieving purity of thought through education and betterment.
Abstinence- Constant mindfulness of others and one's surroundings; practicing self-control, abstention, and moderation.
Liberality- Generosity. Willingness to give. A nobility of thought or actions.
Diligence- A zealous and careful nature in one's actions and work. Decisive work ethic. Budgeting one's time; monitoring one's own activities to guard against laziness.
Patience- Forbearance and endurance through moderation. Resolving conflicts peacefully, as opposed to resorting to violence. The ability to forgive; to show mercy to sinners.
Kindness- Charity, compassion, friendship, and sympathy without prejudice and for its own sake.
Humility- Modest behavior, selflessness, and the giving of respect. Giving credit where credit is due; not unfairly glorifying one's own self.Modest behavior, selflessness, and the giving of respect. Giving credit where credit is due; not unfairly glorifying one's own self.****
Pride was the original sin....what fell lucifer was pride as it's what all other sins are born from. Any pride is sin. Even national pride. Even 'I'm proud of my kid for getting good grades' can be such. This is the downfall of every man, woman, child. Faith in the Lord before all things, and credit to the Lord for all grace in life.
16 There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, 19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. (Proverbs 6:16-19, ESV)
Maybe its just me not searching the correct way or algorithms. I was searching online for a witty anti pride themed shirt hoping to find something a bit thought stimulating and not too brash. I was quite surprised that I could find nothing at all. Nothing from the slightest suggestive to the boldest in your face image or saying.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12
They push pride. They push gluttony. They push murder. They push lust. They push greed. They push wrath. They push envy. There isn't a sin that Satan invented they don't push. The world is an ocean of filth. God's Grace is the ONLY way to clean yourself of it. The world is ruled by Evil. I'm actually surprised it's not much worse than it actually is.
I took a course once on Copywriting. Every sales tactic was to entice the 7 deadly sins. Vanity, gluttony, lust, etc. Made my stomach turn thinking to use my writing to make people buy things to make them happy and to entice sin, when really what they needed was God. I wasn’t super religious at the time but I didn’t pursue the career.
I'm not a Christian, but I'm sympathetic to a lot of Christian ideals. Pride means forgetting all the forces and people that helped you get to where you are.
I could be proud of my painting company and the beautiful rooms and exteriors I've created, but it NEVER would have happened without an incredible amount of help over the years starting with the people that taught me my skills, Youtube channels people have created, family and friends that loaned me money to get through the tough parts and allow me to buy expensive equipment, the incredibly patient and understanding customers I got at the beginning who referred me so much work. I could go on and on.
The mindset of gratitude will get you farther than pride. The saying "Pride comes before the fall" has a lot of truth and it's why the saying lives on. Pride is an exaltation of one's self and since you are not perfect, all powerful, all knowing, or
totally independent of others you are playing with fire to exalt yourself. In Christianity, even if you can't think of who to be grateful for, you always have God. Christianity has a nice mechanism for never becoming prideful or exalting another human, such as a king. Notice many kings, politicians and celebrities become prideful....how does that usually end?
Well said friend. Kind of mirrors me and my thoughts. I build patio improvements and pool enclosures mostly with aluminum. My dad (now 82) has worked with me every day for many years since his retirement, and now my son is also learning the trade before he goes and does whatever he decides to go and do. I am indeed thankful every single day. I am truly blessed.
I have no doubt that you understand. Waking up every day, with little concern for clocks, to go do something that you love to do is a remarkable thing. When I started, my kid was inside of his mom, he is now twenty-four. Twenty-four years of building something special by improving others lives with a product that I believe in is far more than I would have ever asked for, but I'm sure that you also understand that nothing was given. It all had to be earned. That is really the crux of my understanding the pride thing. I (also not religious by definition more so by behavior) earned it by years of dedication to my work. Ownership and pride seem to naturally lend themselves to serving others in the best way possible.
Maybe what I take away from your point is that pride in one's work differs from pride in one's self, provided that pride is also humbly wrapped in gratitude. I can accept that.
That's a cool trade. Everything you said is 100% spot on and I agree with your nuanced take on pride in one's work vs in one's self. That's a better way to put it.
Bible Thumper checking in! Thanks for the “Bat Signal!”
Give all glory to our Lord. If you win a marathon, instead of feeling pride, feel gratitude to God who gave you the strength, endurance and protection to accomplish such a great feat. God loves humility and despises arrogance and pride.
So one time I was in the situation of having to have a very complicated surgery and needed a very highly skilled surgeon. And God gave me a surgeon who absolutely refused to take any credit for his skills or the outcome of his work. Instead, he always gave all of the praise and glory to God. I just loved him. Had a 100% positive outcome, of course! Still thankful for him to this day!
Satisfaction with a job well done is different than being Proud. As a Christian, I give Glory to God for everything good that comes from my hands, my heart, my mind. Because nothing can be done without HIM, because HE gave me life, he gave me oxygen to breathe, he gave me direction. My gardens are beautiful, because God's creation is beautiful, not due to my labor, but because God gives me my health and energy to desire beauty, he made the pollinators . He created me in a Garden, but due to the sin of mankind, I am now meant to toil, to get that Garden back.
CS Lewis considers pride the number 1 sin. Every other sin branches off from pride. He has some good stuff on the topic of pride.
Lewis identifies the most important virtue as courage because without courage you can’t practice the rest of the virtues. Being virtuous only until it requires serious risk to yourself, shows that your virtues are fictitious. This concept became apparent during the vax mandate era. I used the CS Lewis quote about courage in my religious exemption letter to my company.
I did not know his view that courage was the most important virtue. I have come to the same conclusion so now I absolutely must read his work on that.
Thank you for posting, fren.
Here is the actual C.S. Lewis quote: “Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means at the point of highest reality. A chastity or honesty or mercy which yields to danger will be chaste or honest or merciful only on conditions. Pilate was merciful till it became risky.”
In the usual listing of the virtues, the word for courage is fortitude.
Indeed: https://www.cslewis.com/a-primer-on-pride/
Lucifer is the entity we know as Lucifer, and not Azazel (some would say his original form and name) because of his pride.
Pride indeed does goeth before a fall.
The Seven Deadly Sins: Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, Pride
LUST- An insatiable need for sex or things of a sexual nature. This includes thoughts, desires, and actions. If this need is unfed, it can lead to masterbation, rape, and even beastiality. Lust is fed by any of the aformentioned means or viewing pornography.
Gluttony- Over endulgences of anything to the extreme, usually food or drink. Alcoholism is considered part of Gluttony. Drug abuse, Gluttony. Greed- Greed is the need for material posessions or material wealth. If this need is unfed, a Greedy person may even resort to hoarding their goods, theft, robbery, or obtaining any material posessions by means of trickery, violence, deception, or manipulation. Greedy people usually are easy to bribe, or will take any bet or do anything for a dollar.
Sloth- Sadness, depression, or the inability to feel joy. Sloth is often confused with Gluttony, though I don't know why. Those who suffer from depression to an extreme usually have thoughts of or plans for suicide. Many times, Sloth can lead to another sin: Wrath. Those who have lost or lack love, usually fall into a deep state of Sloth.
Wrath- Extreme anger, rage, hatred, or a need for vengance or revenge. People who suffer with Wrath issues will often resort to taking the law in their own hands if they feel the justice system has failed them. To feed the need of Wrath, they may even turn to physical abuse of themself or others, murder, or even genocide. Wrath usually is a need to do harm to others. Dante described Wrath as "love of justice perverted to revenge and spite" according to the Wikipedia.
Envy- The need to have better or be better than others. The need to have the goods of others. Wanting what others have for yourself. Many times, someone with extreme Envous needs may turn to voyerism to feed the need to see what others have that the envious want.
Pride- Once considered a need to be the most beautiful, Pride can also mean a need for public acceptance in all acts. Pride can also be a need to be more important than others. Those who suffer with Pride issues, usually fail to give due complements to others, but instead fish for complements for them selves. They find ways to be better than those around them and usually have a "One Up" story. Pride is said to be the original and most deadly of the seven sins, leading straight to damnation.
The Seven Heavenly Virtues: Chastity, Abstinence, Liberality, Diligence, Patience, Kindness, Humility
Chastity- Courage and boldness. Embracing of moral wholesomeness and achieving purity of thought through education and betterment.
Abstinence- Constant mindfulness of others and one's surroundings; practicing self-control, abstention, and moderation.
Liberality- Generosity. Willingness to give. A nobility of thought or actions.
Diligence- A zealous and careful nature in one's actions and work. Decisive work ethic. Budgeting one's time; monitoring one's own activities to guard against laziness.
Patience- Forbearance and endurance through moderation. Resolving conflicts peacefully, as opposed to resorting to violence. The ability to forgive; to show mercy to sinners.
Kindness- Charity, compassion, friendship, and sympathy without prejudice and for its own sake.
Humility- Modest behavior, selflessness, and the giving of respect. Giving credit where credit is due; not unfairly glorifying one's own self.Modest behavior, selflessness, and the giving of respect. Giving credit where credit is due; not unfairly glorifying one's own self.****
Excellent post! Thank you!
We should meme the other 6 sins into each of their own celebratory months to show how ridiculous pride is.
Great idea. Lust month will be really similar to Pride month.
Pride was the original sin....what fell lucifer was pride as it's what all other sins are born from. Any pride is sin. Even national pride. Even 'I'm proud of my kid for getting good grades' can be such. This is the downfall of every man, woman, child. Faith in the Lord before all things, and credit to the Lord for all grace in life.
PRI DEMON TH
16 There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, 19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. (Proverbs 6:16-19, ESV)
Maybe its just me not searching the correct way or algorithms. I was searching online for a witty anti pride themed shirt hoping to find something a bit thought stimulating and not too brash. I was quite surprised that I could find nothing at all. Nothing from the slightest suggestive to the boldest in your face image or saying.
My shirt says: "Awake , Not woke" (get lots of 'I like your shirt' complements when out and about.)
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12
I'm going to Target to hit on girls, but I won't buy a thing.
It's gays too in the next few days, so they'll be trying to jam a lot more than opinions down peoples throats.
oh boy, I shouldn't laugh, but that's funny, right there
Pride comes before the Fall.
Pride comes before the fall.....
They push pride. They push gluttony. They push murder. They push lust. They push greed. They push wrath. They push envy. There isn't a sin that Satan invented they don't push. The world is an ocean of filth. God's Grace is the ONLY way to clean yourself of it. The world is ruled by Evil. I'm actually surprised it's not much worse than it actually is.
I took a course once on Copywriting. Every sales tactic was to entice the 7 deadly sins. Vanity, gluttony, lust, etc. Made my stomach turn thinking to use my writing to make people buy things to make them happy and to entice sin, when really what they needed was God. I wasn’t super religious at the time but I didn’t pursue the career.
Pride comes before the fall. I expect the collapse to begin as soon as pride month is over.
Remember, pride was the very first sin. It's the sin that Lucifer created when he rebelled against God. Everything else has stemmed off from that.
Symbolism will be there downfall.....
I totally get, and agree with your point, but that is one that troubles me. Am I not to be proud of my work?
I'm not a Christian, but I'm sympathetic to a lot of Christian ideals. Pride means forgetting all the forces and people that helped you get to where you are.
I could be proud of my painting company and the beautiful rooms and exteriors I've created, but it NEVER would have happened without an incredible amount of help over the years starting with the people that taught me my skills, Youtube channels people have created, family and friends that loaned me money to get through the tough parts and allow me to buy expensive equipment, the incredibly patient and understanding customers I got at the beginning who referred me so much work. I could go on and on.
The mindset of gratitude will get you farther than pride. The saying "Pride comes before the fall" has a lot of truth and it's why the saying lives on. Pride is an exaltation of one's self and since you are not perfect, all powerful, all knowing, or totally independent of others you are playing with fire to exalt yourself. In Christianity, even if you can't think of who to be grateful for, you always have God. Christianity has a nice mechanism for never becoming prideful or exalting another human, such as a king. Notice many kings, politicians and celebrities become prideful....how does that usually end?
Well said friend. Kind of mirrors me and my thoughts. I build patio improvements and pool enclosures mostly with aluminum. My dad (now 82) has worked with me every day for many years since his retirement, and now my son is also learning the trade before he goes and does whatever he decides to go and do. I am indeed thankful every single day. I am truly blessed.
I have no doubt that you understand. Waking up every day, with little concern for clocks, to go do something that you love to do is a remarkable thing. When I started, my kid was inside of his mom, he is now twenty-four. Twenty-four years of building something special by improving others lives with a product that I believe in is far more than I would have ever asked for, but I'm sure that you also understand that nothing was given. It all had to be earned. That is really the crux of my understanding the pride thing. I (also not religious by definition more so by behavior) earned it by years of dedication to my work. Ownership and pride seem to naturally lend themselves to serving others in the best way possible.
Maybe what I take away from your point is that pride in one's work differs from pride in one's self, provided that pride is also humbly wrapped in gratitude. I can accept that.
That's a cool trade. Everything you said is 100% spot on and I agree with your nuanced take on pride in one's work vs in one's self. That's a better way to put it.
Pride month isn't about being proud of your work, it's about being proud of your gayness.
I am speaking of pride being a sin. Not pride month.
Valid question to be honest, where are the bible thumpers when we need them?
Bible Thumper checking in! Thanks for the “Bat Signal!”
Give all glory to our Lord. If you win a marathon, instead of feeling pride, feel gratitude to God who gave you the strength, endurance and protection to accomplish such a great feat. God loves humility and despises arrogance and pride.
So one time I was in the situation of having to have a very complicated surgery and needed a very highly skilled surgeon. And God gave me a surgeon who absolutely refused to take any credit for his skills or the outcome of his work. Instead, he always gave all of the praise and glory to God. I just loved him. Had a 100% positive outcome, of course! Still thankful for him to this day!
Satisfaction with a job well done is different than being Proud. As a Christian, I give Glory to God for everything good that comes from my hands, my heart, my mind. Because nothing can be done without HIM, because HE gave me life, he gave me oxygen to breathe, he gave me direction. My gardens are beautiful, because God's creation is beautiful, not due to my labor, but because God gives me my health and energy to desire beauty, he made the pollinators . He created me in a Garden, but due to the sin of mankind, I am now meant to toil, to get that Garden back.