Fundamental christianity, is it narcissistic?

[bernee51]

In another thread the following exhange took place:

Me: You live a blinkered existence, blinded by your own perspective and a sociocentic, narcisstic religion.

Al: Narcissism? I'm am not a homosexual.

Me: Do you understand what is actually meant by narcissism? And why do you assocaiate it with homosexuality?

Al: You do know the story don't you? It is the reflection of the human body that should provide the empiricism necessary to accurately describe sex acts, the what and where.

But is that what it means. The 'story' of Narcissis is well known - the beautiful youth who fell in love with his own reflection and so on. But what does the myth mean and how does it relate to religion.

(Please note, the following discussion reflects on belief systems and does not indicate or mean to imply pathologies of any sort amongst the followers of these religions.)

In psychology narcissism (and borderline pathologies) indicate a problem with realistic emotional boundaries to the self. The individual lacks a sense of cohesive self. The self either treats the world as an extension of itself (narcissistic), or is constantly invaded and tortured by the world (borderline).

So let's look at fundamental religious belief. Any parallels? I have been told often enough by believers that if I do not embrace the teachings of Jesus I am bound for hell. The world at large, in fact, is really (or is believed should be) an extension of the dogma of the proscribed religiosity.

Or, as we have seen in other threads, there can arise amongst those who have these beliefs a definite feeling that the world is out to get their religion. That forces are gathering to bring them down - their beliefs are being invaded and tortured by, for example, 'hate speech' legislation.

Narcissism can be summed up in the statement "My country right or wrong" (of course you can subsitiute any belief system you like in place of the word country)

Fundamental religious beliefs are clearly sociocentric (the social equivalent of egocentrism). The world is seen from only one perspective. Development out of these mindsets can be defined as a successive decrease in sociocentrism. It is the development of an apersptectival, truly pluralist worldview.

Fundamental religion does not offer that as an option. It is definitely a case of - my religion, right or wrong, take it or leave it. And, by the way, if you leave it you are doomed.

[AlAyeti]

IF an idea or belief like "Christianity", "atheism" (or other meme) is forced upon people, what good does it really lead to?

Interesting how many non-Christians send their children to Christian schools. Not one forced.

Not the same thing you see taught in public schools.

///

Quote:
And trenc,

When your "proof" of the observable universe is figured out from 0 X 1, you have the kind of world in which secularism has fashioned. Chaos rules supreme.

I don't know what you mean. I never exposed any cosmogony in this forum, you must be confounding me with someone else.

Please except my apology.

I must have mistaken your views as coming from a person that believes everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING somehow "just started by some kind of accident.

I'm truly sorry to put anyone into that camp that doesn't deserve the application.

[trencacloscas]

I must have mistaken your views as coming from a person that believes everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING somehow "just started by some kind of accident.

I still don't know what you mean. I think I never write such things here. If you insist in creating straw men and attributing them to anybody without regarding what he is actually expressing, no dialogue is possible.

Interesting how many non-Christians send their children to Christian schools. Not one forced.

Not the same thing you see taught in public schools.

Are children forced to attend public schools?????????????

[Cathar1950]

trencacloscas wrote:

Are children forced to attend public schools?????????????

They are forced to go to some school or be home schooled. I belive they are under some regulations such as learning. I have seen some pretty bad private schools where they use flags to communicate needs. If you have to go to the rest room you put up the American flag and if you got a question on education you put up the Christian flag and they all live in cubicals.
It could be the other way around on the flags.
Public education has had it's own problems. Largely created to create a work force for factories and keep kids off the street.
It seems the Authoritarian personality lacks integration of the self and is usually underdeveloped. Narcissism might be an American disfunction as Christopher Lash points out in The culture of narcissism. I would venture to say it will get worse as the economy makes it harder to achieve or dream the American dream. To fight the unbeatable foe!

[trencacloscas]

They are forced to go to some school or be home schooled.

Certainly, but they are not forced to go to public schools. Their parents may choose a religious school for them.

Quote:
Interesting how many non-Christians send their children to Christian schools. Not one forced.

Not the same thing you see taught in public schools.

Not one forced. Religious people can send their children wherever they want, even home school them and monitor personally their education.

[Cathar1950]

trencacloscas old buddy in my state Michigan(hillbillies) they have to go until they are 16. They even put parents in jail who fail to keep their kids in school. Yes they do have private schools and home schooling which is supervised. I am not complaining. The last thing we need is a bunch of idiots running around. I know school is not always the solution, look at our president. The home school people have to really be on there toes.
We in the US suffer from the "behavioral syndrome". We almost tried progressive education but the wars got in the way. My self I am for education but would like to see it done well. I some times think they want to dismantle public education in this country so they can teach them what ever they want. The rich will sill be able to send their kids to good schools while the rest are trained as labor. Of course todays labor seems to be marketing and sales. I think maybe the USA is narcissistic and that maybe why there are so many messed up people. Maybe the religious right are just Americans with mental problems...who knows.
Me I always liked Dewey and Whithead.

[trencacloscas]

Unbelievable. Probably Michael Moore was right about that.