...is no evil greater than that of self-love. The winged children of self-love are self-praise, self-satisfaction, gluttony, unchastity, self-esteem, jealousy and the crown of all these, pride. St. Hesychios, “On Watchfulness and Holiness,” #202 How are we to understand the fathers’ condemnation of “self-love”? As with the word “pride,” the connotation of “self-love” has shifted making it sound to our, contemporary ears at least, as if the fathers are recommending that we cultivate a lack of gratitude—or even disdain—for the gift of our own life.
Years back I read a book "The danger of self-love" as I was searching for answers to an epidemic sweeping Christian circles of encouraging us to love our neighbour as we love ourselves. The author (?) said it was to be able to forget about yourself altogether being taken up with something greater which you are excited about. The example he gave was shouting at a football match.
Thank you Margaret for your comment and book title!
While I think he's on to something, I'm not certain whether or not I agree with the author's suggestion that love of neighbor involves forgetting about myself along the lines of "shouting at a football game."
At least in the anthropology of the Orthodox Church, what happens at a football game is more a matter of passion--of being moved by strong emotions and so losing my freedom to act. This seems to me to be not wholly different than the situation of the person who gives himself over to any other pleasure.
But, like I said, I think the author is on to something. His intuition seems sound but I wonder if it couldn't be expressed more accurately?
Hopefully, the post on virtuous self-love I'm currently might flesh out the author's insight.
Years back I read a book "The danger of self-love" as I was searching for answers to an epidemic sweeping Christian circles of encouraging us to love our neighbour as we love ourselves. The author (?) said it was to be able to forget about yourself altogether being taken up with something greater which you are excited about. The example he gave was shouting at a football match.
A very timely, astute post. Thank you.
Thank you Margaret for your comment and book title!
While I think he's on to something, I'm not certain whether or not I agree with the author's suggestion that love of neighbor involves forgetting about myself along the lines of "shouting at a football game."
At least in the anthropology of the Orthodox Church, what happens at a football game is more a matter of passion--of being moved by strong emotions and so losing my freedom to act. This seems to me to be not wholly different than the situation of the person who gives himself over to any other pleasure.
But, like I said, I think the author is on to something. His intuition seems sound but I wonder if it couldn't be expressed more accurately?
Hopefully, the post on virtuous self-love I'm currently might flesh out the author's insight.
Thanks again for commenting!
In Christ,
FrG