We are proud of our children, and sometimes benignly proud of our accomplishments. We are proud to be Americans, or soldiers, or Eagle Scouts, or teachers. But words change. Most writings of the major religions of the world condemn what was translated in to archaic English to be PRIDE. I will call this, for simplicity and familiarity sake, Biblical Pride. It is something different than the types of feelings described above. And I submit that Biblical Pride is at the root of all human failings.
Biblical pride describes a condition, which is all too prevalent in today's society. It is akin to hedonism. It is related to extreme selfishness and self-centeredness. It is apparent in haughty arrogance and conceit. It is the quality that makes humans want to be superior to or to dominate others. It is what drives fashion, greed, the desire for fame and fortune--especially at the expense of others. It is a feeling of entitlement, meaning that the world owes us something, for nothing. It is the reason Capitalism works and the reason Communism fails (I am a capitalist, and I don't condone Communism). It is why Lucifer, as spoken of in the Bible Book of Revelations, was cast out of Heaven. Pride is the antithesis of Godliness.
Pride is at the root of all crime. It is at the root of class distinction as a means of elevating one group or individual over another. Biblical pride is at the root of prejudice, bigotry, and unkindness of all types. Pride drives robbery, rape, sexual molestation, abuse of all kinds, human trafficking, and slavery. It is the root cause of wars.
Pride is responsible for offending and of taking offense. It is the reason for the traditions of so-called honor killings, and indeed, all murders. Biblical Pride is what causes disrespect and the sense of being disrespected. This kind of pride is behind all unethical business behavior and dishonest practices.
Biblical pride is what ultimately causes war, imperialism, nation conquering nations. It is what fills people with hate. Biblical pride is what causes persecution, religious and otherwise. It is what causes children to dishonor and disobey their parents with all malicious wrong behavior. Pride is why socialism will never work.
Biblical pride is what causes a lack of belief in a higher power. It is what causes one generation to declare emphatically that the world is flat, while another generation declares that it is not. Pride is what causes the certainty that science of the day is more correct than faith in God. It is what caused the crusades, and what now causes Islamic extremism. Pride is the father of contention.
Pride causes disputes. Pride causes divorce. It causes abortion in all its forms. It causes wars--even world wars. Pride is destructive and unteachable. It is certain in its fallibility. It is used to unfairly elevate some and to falsely condemn others.
Pride causes infanticide, homicide, and genocide. Pride causes unhappiness in all its forms. Pride is what Jesus Christ reviled and condemned. Pride drives fads, the desire to worship our idols and to desire to be worshiped as idols. Pride means keeping up with the Jones. Pride means refusing help to those who need it. Pride means self-service rather than other service.
Pride is wrong. Biblical pride destroys the spirit and gratifies the carnality of man. Pride causes us to condemn others and to exalt ourselves above other, often in the name of proper religion. Pride is what is wrong with religion--when religion is wrong. Pride snubs, bullys, makes fun, and hurts.
Pride, if you will really think about it, is the basis of all things wrong with humanity. Pride is the Anti-Christ. Pride is the chief tool of evil. Pride prevents human progress and extinguishes Godliness.