Posted on 11/04/2006 1:40:19 PM PST by Salvation
So envy is the desire for something that you are not supposed to have?
They go hand in hand and unchecked lead straight to the destruction of human beings.
The most dangerous combination is an envious person with a little bit of power over others. Such a person is to be feared, despised, and if possible destroyed.
L
But if you used the word "admire" instead of envy is it still a sin? In this instance you could say "I admire my friend Mike and how he's lived his life and the choices he's made." Is there a difference between admiring someone and envying them?
I don't understand what you mean by a "social" sin.
Isn't ALL sin social in aspect, because it harms all other humans?
Strange, we know it's bad, but I'm not exactly sure what it is. Websters says it's a resentment against the advantage of others.
It really gave me a lot to chew on and to reflect on in both myself and in those around me. Envy is so pervasive.
One thing that struck me is how older folks can envy young children and even then they take them down and the child thinks it is their problem and extinquish this quality that threatens others, when usually it is a God given strength/trait. I think this happens a lot even in well meaning people and in Christian families.
You forgot to mention that you also live in the greatest nation on the face of God's green earth!
More power to you; you sound like you've got the best of one of the deadly sins!
It could be envy. Look at my #39. I have decided to be grateful instead of covetous.
Yes, I suppose all sins in some way involve people. Yet some sins are more against oneself than another. Greed doesn't require another person, envy does.
I am reminded of something I heard on a radio talk show a while back.
They were asking some guy in a third world country why he wanted to go to America.
"I want to go where the poor people are fat!"
I only hope he got his wish.
**Envy is so pervasive.**
Yes, the secular world would have us think that "envy" and wanting to beat down those around us who might have more (of anything:
stuff, money, brains, degrees, awards, body of the slim type, etc. LOL!) is OK.
Did I catch everything there?
NTW, thanks for your kind words.
Is there a difference between envy and jealousy?
**You forgot to mention that you also live in the greatest nation on the face of God's green earth! **
And that we have the right to vote freely!
Shall I tell you how to vote here? No, I don't think so. Just vote.
Absolutely; two different things there. Envy doesn't mean you want to have exactly that which is the others but you do want to have what the other has...and just a little more or just a little better brand. There is that aspect of superiority as mentioned in the article. The simple life facet of "keeping up with the Jones'" can easily be the sin of envy, IMHO.
OOPS!
BTW, thanks for your kind words.
"Is there anything missing from that answer? Why the hatred? What is the motivation for the wickedness? What causes the anger?"
The source of all of these is the Evil One. The Fathers were quite clear on this. +Anthony the Great worte extensively on the subject.
Ask someone to define "irony" and then sit back and enjoy the blank stare.
Webster is correct as usual. It is a resentment against the advantage, real or imagined, of others.
It's the motivation for all kinds of evils. It's the reason kids shoot each other over sneakers and jackets. It's the reason redistributionist schemes nearly always enjoy wide public support.
It's also dangerously easy to fall into being envious. One must guard oneself constantly lest it take over.
As I said above envy combined with a bit of power over others is quite often lethal.
L
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