Is pride a "good" thing, is it a sin?

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   Eugene Hardyposted 12 years ago

   Is pride a "good" thing, is it a sin?

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   WD Curry 111posted 12 years ago

   See? The trouble is English. It is not a sin to be proud of yourself (within reason), or gratified by accomplishments. Yet, there is a sin of pride. Deep down . . . beyond words . . .  we know the difference.

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   Larry Wallposted 12 years ago

   WD Curry III gives an excellent answer. One should take pride in their work, i.e., do their best. One should let pride define who they are. You can be proud that you graduated with honors form Harvard University. But it would be wrong to for you to let that pride think you are a better person who never went to college.

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   SidKempposted 12 years ago

   Pride really  has two meanings, and one is healthy, while the other is not. It is healthy to have a realistic sense of what we are good at, to commit to our creativity and service, so that we contribute to the world.
   
   It is unhealthy - and some would say sinful - to claim to have done something entirely yourself, or to put yourself out as better than others. We don't help ourselves by clinging to past successes or old ways of doing things either. This kind of pride - with attachment or puffing ourselves up - usually comes from a deeper inner hurt where we don't feel good about ourselves at all. Let's have some compassion on ourselves and be open to healing.

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   wingedcentaurposted 12 years ago

   Hi, Eugene Hardy. What's going on?
   
   Well, as you know, like many words, there are different shadings of meaning to the word 'pride.' Since you mention 'sin,' one is immediately reminded of the old saying, 'Pride cometh before a fall,' and all that. I suppose, in that context, the 'fall' would be the karmic or godly punishment for the pride -- a synonymous label for which might be something like 'hubris'; then we could restate that saying as: 'Hubris comes before a fall.'
   
   In historical-geopolitical terms, pride-hubris is said to have resulted in many a fall of global hegemonic powers. Pride-hubris is said to have driven these powers to something called 'overreach.' I seem to remember something from Greek mythology about the boy who flew to close to the sun.....
   
   So, we understand that this kind of 'pride' or hubris can cause people to overestimate themselves and their capabilities. Arrogance and self-delusion are characteristics associated with pride-hubris in this context.
   
   Then there's a kind of pride that may (or may not) be more quiet and humble in expression. A father can be proud of his son. But still, one has to be careful even here. This kind of paternal 'pride' can indeed turn 'sinful,' if it drives him (the father) to push his son too hard -- say to succeed in an area of life that had frustrated him (the father); thus the father, in this way, is said to be trying to 'live vicariously through his son.'
   
   As easy example of how quiet, humble paternal pride can metastisize, if you will, into the 'sinful' kind of pride-hubris is something like this: The father, for some reason, was never able to fulfill his personal heart's desire and become a professional surfer. He therefore relentless pushes his son to accomplish what he (the father) had failed to do himself, never mind whether or not the young man is even interested in water sports!
   
   Take it easy.

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   reeltaulkposted 12 years ago

   I think pride is Great.....maybe you are speaking of false pride.  Having Pride in respecting yourself regardless of who chooses to respect you.  Pride in maintaining self and your health.  Pride in protecting and raising your family.  Pride in standing by that which you practice and believe in.  There is no sin in that, some of those things amongst others that I have mentioned should be handled with the utmost of pride.  But when one chooses to pretend and act like you take those things as well as others things seriously and to heart for show and you sincerely don't, that's where the false pride comes in, but that's ok some folk like that!

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   flashmakeitposted 12 years ago

   Well I think pride is like vanity or self-idolatry and it is not a very charitable thought.  People should to be humble and meek. 
   For example a woman has pride in everything about her self verse a nun that freely goes around helping people.

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   Dubuquedogtrainerposted 12 years ago

   It depends on how you define pride. If it is self respect, I think that is fine, but if it is arrogance and an air of superiority, then I think that yes that is sin. I think one way of differentiating might be to look at the fruits of that pride. What does the person's pride cause them to do? There is where you might be able to tell more clearly whether it is sin or not. Is the pride self-serving or is it for the betterment of one's work and society?

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   shwetha123posted 12 years ago

   For me pride is a good thing. If we are humble and down to earth then pride is a good thing. But if pride become proud then in my opinion its a sin. Because God created as so we can not differentiate to each other.
   
   So in my opinion if some one is humble and down to earth then pride is a good thing.

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    randomlyramblinposted 12 years ago

    I think Pride is a good thing, we should all be proud of who we are and our accomplishments.  The problem is that the line between pride and arrogance is not always clear.

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    Brinafr3shposted 12 years ago

    The kind of pride that hurts other people is bad pride. Though I believe in having confidence in something that help others advance.

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    move2moveposted 12 years ago

    Be proud of who you are and what you do good, same for being proud of others when they do well, Period!
    There's nothing wrong by doing that during empowering yourself and others in the same process without condition and with a sense of humility that tells you that you still have a lot to learn.
    I can't see the trace of a sin in that. Rather the opposite is the case.

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    InterestCapturedposted 12 years ago

    I think confidence is a good thing, though I feel that pride has a negative connotation, implying that it gets in the way of being a good person

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    Eugene Hardyposted 12 years ago

    Thanks guys for answering my question, it is always good seeing different opinions.

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