The American Narcissist PART 2

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Please see the article about Identifying an Evil and Wicked Heart after reading this post. 
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PART 2

TedTalks has a video that goes into the when, why, and how of the surge of narcissism in America.

It is very informative, and one in today's American culture has to evaluate if they fall into one of these two categories. Narcissistic Quiz

On a biblical level, what does this mean for Christians?  Does the Bible address what we currently call narcissism?  Of course it does because all humans are sinful, self-seeking, and often self-serving.  It is the lifestyle, culture, and parental guidance given to a young human that will address whether these tendencies become ruler of one's life--and consequently of those around them's lives--or if the human learns to be balanced, insightful, and reflective of one's own abilities and limitations.

At Biblical Perspectives on Narcissism, they write:

The term which the Bible uses is “insolent pride”. We can know that “insolent pride” is the Biblical equivalent to “narcissism” because the characteristics of insolent pride line up with the traits of narcissism.

• Proverbs 21:24 – “Proud,” “Haughty,” “ Scoffer,” are his names, Who acts with insolent pride. 
• From Dictionary.comInsolence (noun)1. contemptuously rude or impertinent behavior or speech..

“Insolent pride” is more than just pride. It is pride that is contemptuous, looking down on others. Think of a queen that sees herself as above everyone else, as though they only exist to serve her.

This also is part of a classical description of narcissism.

• From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissism)Narcissism is the pursuit of gratification from vanity, or egotistic admiration of one’s own physical or mental attributes, that derive from arrogant pride. The term originated with Narcissus in Greek mythology who fell in love with his own image reflected in a pool of water.

A biblical study of narcissism can begin with a study of “insolent pride”, “scoffers”, and “haughtiness”.

In the Bible, there are documented accounts of narcissists who destroyed those around them, and when confronted by God's corrective guidance, they either rebelled further or saw their traits for what they were...sinful.

There's the rub!  We are born into this world self-centered yet dependent.  We want what we want, when we want it, yet we are reliant on our caregivers to provide this for us.  It is the lesson of humility, wisdom, and compassion that leads these little bundles of human life into (better) balanced beings.  

So, narcissism may have had a surge after the 60s, when everyone was great, unique, and special, even if it was only in words lavishly draped on them by those in authority, but it has always been around--as far back as the Greeks who told the tale of Echo and Narcissist, and even in the Bible when labeled as insolent pride, scoffers, and haughtiness.

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