Proud as a........Satan??

as i drive around i notice many stickers and ribbons and the like stating: "American Pride" or "Union Pride" or something else relating to pride. are we excited that we have pride, one of the "seven deadly sins"? have we forgotten that pride is a characteristic of Satan. Proud as a peacock? the peacock is a symbol of the devil because of his pride. By having american pride are we just putting up another wall between americans and everyone else, is this what we should do? i was wondering why anyone that is not a satanist would want to display their characteristic of satan for all to see?

Are the only options your views or satanism? I don't think being proud of my country's better moments is a characteristic of Satan, personally. I think that's a reasonable thing to take some pride in. Taken to extremes, I can see how that's bad...but it's a little like the difference between wanting to eat and gluttony. Some pride can be a good thing.

I don't know about all that pride and satan stuff, but I do have some thoughts. Sometimes they are contradictory to each other, my thoughts that is.

Being proud to be an American, is a lovely premise, if I thought that America was the be all and end all of perfect harmony, and believer of peace. This is tough because I am proud to be an American, based on the Declaration of Independence and the early vision of a perfect union. On the other hand, I am not proud of some actions that our country has taken. I keep forgetting that America is not a single entity. America is made up of many people, with many different takes on how this country should behave.

Re: Pride in my team. There have been many times when I have shaken my head at the followers of sports, who take pride in the fact that their team won. There is nothing wrong with being happy that a particular team has excelled. What bothers me is the shouting out, " We're number one" as if you personally had played the game. Then they go out and flip cars and destroy property in the name of team pride.

I am dismayed by parents that get so violent at children's baseball, football, basketball and other games all in the name of pride.
Pride is a good thing if it is not taken to the extreme. To feel good about one's self, one's child, one's team or one's country based on the accomplishment is ok. Saying that you are better than anybody else just because of the outcome of one or more contests, is distressing.
Competition is fine if it is to build one up. But competition geared towards tearing another down, is in my opinon, completely wrong. Think about it, in the olympics, participants have a few tries, and the best performance is the one that is taken, to advance to the next level. The same goes for baseball, football and basketball, to name a few. My point is, there is no reason to take pride in anything as it presents itself in the moment, for the next moment might produce totally different results. Enjoy the games for what they are, enjoy the reaching out to the world, but leave the pride out of it.

I'd second what Standing said, although I probably wouldn't be able to put it as well as he did.

A better way of viewing the peacock (and pride) is seeing that it acknowledges the beauty it possesses. It is only vain in the eyes of humans. It teaches us much in the way of celebrating who we are.

Again, though, anything taken to extreme is usually bad. I love my country (the U.S.) but also acknowledge that it has some fault. On the other hand, I think it is foolish to not take pride in what you have accomplished to a reasonable extent. I grew up with such a low self-esteem that if someone would have told me I was a worm, I'd have worshipped them for the compliment. It is simply not healthy to regress to that, and I will not allow anyone to demand that I see things otherwise.

standing_on_one_foot said:

Are the only options your views or satanism? I don't think being proud of my country's better moments is a characteristic of Satan, personally. I think that's a reasonable thing to take some pride in. Taken to extremes, I can see how that's bad...but it's a little like the difference between wanting to eat and gluttony. Some pride can be a good thing.

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it is not just my views or satanism. the major religions have a negative view of pride and they stress humbleness if you consider the lives and actions of the prophets. most don't see being proud as a problem or a characteristic of satan. it seems hypocritical to me to believe in a God that teaches, through prophets and messengers, that pride is a quality of Satan, and then boast about having pride(for those who believe in the biblical prophets and messengers).

I really believe the idea behind those Sins is taking things to extremes. A certain amount of most of them isn't too bad. Some, I think, can be good. That Aristotle did know what he was talking about when it came to moderation.

Be glad you live in a country where you won't be killed for making that comment.

I echo what standing on one foot has said. You are taking this too far, pride is only bad when taken to the extreme. Just like eating is only bad when taken to the extreme, I'm sure you eat, right?

As a Satanist myself, I see the blind patriotism, stupidity, and shallow thinking (though many years removed) a detriment to my own development, why should I participate?

It is the character of your "satan" that you are really talking about- which is really yourself, you tear yourselves up with guilt.

Master Vigil said:

Be glad you live in a country where you won't be killed for making that comment.

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if people will kill for a wallet, or a watch, or for oil, they will surely kill for a comment as well.

john313 said:

if people will kill for a wallet, or a watch, or for oil, they will surely kill for a comment as well.

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What does that have to do with being proud that you live in a country where your comment is allowed. People kill for many things, but I seriously doubt the president will have you killed because of your comments. You are able to exress your views because you live in a country that allows you to. Do I think this country is the best country in the world?? No, but I still have pride that I can say that. You are taking this too seriously. It is the people who kill for wallets, watches, oil, etc... that take things too seriously. That is where it becomes a problem, not with stickers on cars.

I'm sorry, Master Vigil, but I must disagree. A sticker tried to stab me with a knife the other day, before I captured it using my refrigerator.

And I'm happy, too, that I can be silly, and not have to worry about being killed for that, either. Too much humility and too much pride can both be unhealthy. I stand firm on the former, because being too humble and not allowing yourself to take pride in who you are leads to low self-esteem and not feeling you're accountable for anything. (Or feeling like you're too accountable- feeling guilty for things you haven't even caused.)

Those stickers, always trying to get away with everything. They must be possessed by satan.

John 313 You are right that pride is one of the seven deadly sins. But it is a sin only in certain cases. Having pride in something enough to care about it and taking satifaction in being something. But it is a sin if you kill for it and put it before all things even God. It is just a simple misunderstanding of the meaning of the word pride.

Betweenangelsandinsects

too much pride leads to the dark side

FeathersinHair said:

I'm sorry, Master Vigil, but I must disagree. A sticker tried to stab me with a knife the other day, before I captured it using my refrigerator.

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"You must spread some Karma around before giving it to FeathersinHair again." *sigh*

Regarding the OP - pride, like anything, is fine in moderation. Moderation is the key in all things.

If you didn't have a little pride in yourself you would be miserable. Nothing you did would be good in your eyes, you would consntantly pick yourself apart.

a little pride is nessisary to be happy. Too much is bad, one can have some pride and still be humble.
You can feel worthwhile and realize that you arn't perfect. Too much pride makes you blind to your mistakes.

wa:do

Accordingly Proverbs 6:16-17 says: These...things the LORD hates...are an abomination to Him...A Proud look...

There can only be so many interpretatons of this, as it is straight to the point and clearly written. Pride is to show EXCESSIVE self-esteem.

To have an American flag sticker is patriotic. To have excessive self pride in your country as if you are the greatest in the world is just as i said; excessive. Many of my friends have a ton pride in America because they think they are BETTER than everyone else. As the worldly "superpower" it is easy to be arrogant and haughty. i think this is all John313 was pointing out.

Natural Submission said:

Accordingly Proverbs 6:16-17 says: These...things the LORD hates...are an abomination to Him...A Proud look...

There can only be so many interpretatons of this, as it is straight to the point and clearly written. Pride is to show EXCESSIVE self-esteem.

To have an American flag sticker is patriotic. To have excessive self pride in your country as if you are the greatest in the world is just as i said; excessive. Many of my friends have a ton pride in America because they think they are BETTER than everyone else. As the worldly "superpower" it is easy to be arrogant and haughty. i think this is all John313 was pointing out.

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Very true. Sadly, my religion being just as valid as anyone elses, states "As long as you harm none, do what you will."

Too often in this equation, people forget the none. This includes the person taking the vow. If I was to not respect myself and expect no others to treat me with respect, I would be harming myself.

I see my country as being no better or worse than any other countries, and I think it is arrogant to imagine it's better. I don't think it's bad to have a ton of pride in whatever country you live in, just as long as you remember that other countries are just as great.

So does everyone agree that too much pride is a bad thing? I think we pretty much agree on that. I agree on the too little, part being valid, too.

If you have a sticker because you think your country is better than everyone elses, sure thats excessive. But don't go on thinking thats the reason anyone else has stickers. I have one only because I know people in the military, and I display it in their honor. I highly doubt that is excessive. And how do you know what you think is excessive, is excessive to another? Don't be so quick to judge.

most people i know think that america is #1, many of these people display stickers and signs. that is excessive pride in my opinion. it is not my place to judge though. that is between them and God.
feathers--sorry to hear about your sticker incident, but i'm glad you're ok.