09 Jan 08
1 edit
Originally posted by whodeyThere are a few words that were so (unfortunately) pervasive in my conditioning growing up—and which remained so, long into adulthood—that I can myself now no longer use them, even if properly and appropriately retranslated from whatever inaccurate understandings I might have acquired. This word is one of them.
Virtue or vice?
If you tell me exactly what you mean by the word, I’ll tell you whether I consider that to be a virtue or a vice, and under what conditions I can think of.
09 Jan 08
always a virtue. ALWAYS for christian or not. when i constantly say "im pretty good but i can do better" knowing well that at certain things i am great at, i continue to get better because i down play it. if you dont believe it is a virtue, then it certainly at the very least will always benefit you.
09 Jan 08
3 edits
Originally posted by vistesdWell that's the rub is'nt it as with any other term? How does one identify with the word "humility". If you think about it, all that matters is how you identify with the term.
There are a few words that were so (unfortunately) pervasive in my conditioning growing up—and which remained so, long into adulthood—that I can myself now no longer use them, even if properly and appropriately retranslated from whatever inaccurate understandings I might have acquired. This word is one of them.
If you tell me exactly what you mean ...[text shortened]... ether I consider that to be a virtue or a vice, and under what conditions I can think of.
I used to think of humility as someone who thinks less of themselves than they actually are. For example, if one were good looking a humble person would say I am not that good looking or if someone were incredibly bright they would say I am really not that smart. However, I have begun to change my view of humility using these parameters because it is embracing an ideal that is false. If one is good looking, then one is good looking and if one is intelligent, then one is intelligent. Instead of embracing falsehood one should be able to recognize the truth of the matter. Humility for me is then incorporating the facts of being smart or good looking appropriatly into the reality around them. For me a lack of humility is not understanding how a good looking or intelligent human being fits into the "bigger picture", so to speak. For example, if I were very smart and I used this bit of knowledge to exalt myself above others and think of myself as better than they based upon my superior intelligence, then I am not being humble. In such a scenerio I probably would not want to give them the time of day, especially if I were of a higher socio-economic status compared to them. However, if I use my superior attributes to serve those who are not as blessed in such areas then I would consider such an attitude to be humble in origin. If they fail to do so, they are not seeing the greater truth of the "big picture" around them. They then are buying into a lie, so to speak, just as the person who is tyring to convince themselves that they are neither good looking or smart even though it is not the case.