Someone put one of my pictures on my post that was a few years old and then I posted another recent one with the same tie. The whole thing makes me uncomfortable. I look awful in pictures and detest having my picture taken. The selfie thing is abhorrent to me. It reeks of narcissism.
Chad Bird wrote these words in a great article on funerals in the “Federalist”. “There is no greater threat to the cohesion and perpetuation of a society than narcissism. The narcissist operates not according to an objective set of values or beliefs, nor are the needs of others an impetus for his actions, but his whole world is centered in the navel at which he gazes. The be-all and end-all reason for his existence is the man in the mirror. Therefore, the question he poses, whenever any decision must be made, is quite simply this: “What’s in it for me?”
Narcissism certainly poses a threat to society and how great the threat posed my show up in the political discussions that we are having right now. One of the candidates wants to be your daddy. One believes that a women who doesn’t vote for another women has a special place in hell. Another official talks about the presidency being “serious business” which led one wag to say, “that is true if you think fund raising and golf playing is serious business”. The obverse must then be true – stopping the world wide martyrdom of Christians; protecting borders; making sure that enemies are controlled;that the laws are faithfully administered; that the constitution is defended and protected; must be fun and games.
Paul talks to Timothy in 2 Timothy 31-7 and basically writes the definition of a narcissist.
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come. For men
will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers,
without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty,
lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying
its power. And from such people turn away.”
Narcissism and funerals is a good topic for discussion too. In the meantime thanks for the comments on the tie.
