The general consensus is that the deadliest sin is pride, but I disagree. This isn't really from a religious perspective despite my use of the word sin; pride seems to be generally maligned across the board in culture. I can see why, as it's associated with many negative behaviors but I'd argue it's also associated with many positive behaviors. Pride can be the motivator people need to pull themselves out of bad situations. Pride can motivate somebody to make positive changes in the world because they want to live up to something. There's a reason gay pride is a thing, because pride can lift people who have historically been oppressed. Pride can be healthy. I think part of the reason pride historically has been a maligned trait is that pride in oneself can often result in people questioning the established power *cough* catholic church *cough* because they believe they have ideas better than the authority. So they just dissed the trait entirely to disincentive dissent.
Another thing to consider is that people who are prideful typically want the rest of society to be as proud of them as they are of themselves, which promotes pro-social actions. Typically the people who commit the worst atrocities are far more ashamed of themselves than they are proud. These people may project false pride to hide that but the truth shines through in their actions. For instance mass shooters often end their own lives and exhibited insecurity and jealousy, hardly symptomatic of true pride in oneself.
I'd say that more destructive than pride is insecurity, envy, lust, and greed. The sociopath and psychopath, often considered the most destructive personalities, don't even have the capacity to even feel pride for themselves, they simply don't value anything except their id.
So, what do you think? Is pride the deadliest sin, or should that be re-evaluated?
11 Jun 2021, 8:13 pm
