The Many Faces of Pride

The Many Faces of Pride

Pride is idolatry, boastfulness, and the failure to recognize deficiencies (Peters 87). With time, people have become more accepting of pride in their societies. This progression of acceptance has led to alterations in the definition. It is the slight tweakings of the definition that have allowed us to perceive pride as a deadly sin and simultaneously an essential for success.

The beginning of all sin occurred when Eve listened to the evil snake, in the garden of Eden, who told her that she could acquire God's knowledge (Peters 87). God forbid Eve to eat the apple of knowledge, but she did regardless. Eve committed the first sin of humankind in an act of pride because pride has been defined as "an attempt at human self-divination" (Peters 87). Since she was only the second person to walk the earth, Eve had few examples of how to act. It seems to be that it was her sheer curiosity and amazement with Eden that caused her to eat the apple, not an attempt to become like God. Despite her intentions, according to the ancient definition of pride Eve sinned the first sin of self-divination. Another example of ancient, religious pride can be seen through an ancient Jewish sect, the Pharisees. These men claimed to be the most religious of the land. Although they did not seek to be at the same level as God, they sought answers and results for their village among themselves when they should have been talking to God. Often times, the Pharisees bent the rules of the Ten Commandments for themselves but forced the villagers to strictly obey them. To make matters worse, these men wanted to be rewarded for their good deeds of "helping their community." The Pharisees refused to admit their faults and were condemned "proud" by Jesus (Yancey & Stafford 1125). God gives us a final example that pride is a deadly sin. Lucifer was created to be one of God's right hand cherubs, "the seal of perfection" (Ezekiel 28:12-15). However, one day Lucifer decided that he wanted more knowledge and power than God. When God found out, Lucifer was kicked out of heaven and fell to the earth, bringing one third of the stars (fallen angels) with him (Isaiah 12:12-14 & Revelations 12:4).