What we can learn about narcissism from religious teachings
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DISCLAIMER: THIS INFORMATION IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR CLINICAL CARE. PLEASE CONSULT A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FOR GUIDANCE SPECIFIC TO YOUR CASE. THIS VIDEO DISCUSSES NARCISSISM IN GENERAL.
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Religious beliefs only contributed to the amount of time that I stood stuck in my narcissistic relationship.
Belief is only opinion. There is truth. Our growing understanding and growth causes evolution of our opinion. Set beliefs happen with a lack of true spiritual growth. It sounds like you had the barriers to spiritual growth shattered. Excellent!
Religions are spirituality corrupted
this is because religion can be used as a very powerful tool of control rather than as sort of a gentle guideline for how to be a good human being. any tool of control can and will be used by narcissists against their victims, especially when it’s a self righteous or a communal narcissist
@@redblasphemy9204 Certainly. There is the old warning about false prophets and the constant take-down by Jesus of the religious hypocrites and control freaks of his day,
I always wondered why “Pride” was considered the worst of the 7 deadly sins until I heard a priest point out that pride enables all of the others. The opposite of pride is humility, but the best expression of humility is gratitude.
“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero
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Thank you, I was thinking Wrath was the most destructive.
I live in Texas where pride is key. The culture is so narcissistic.
@@alecfoster4413
Someone’s pride is the feeling that they have that they are better or more important than other people.
[disapproval]
His pride may still be his downfall.
This may be the greatest and most succinct thing that I have ever read on the internets…. no joke.
@alecfoster4413 My pastor just explained “Humility is not thinking less of yourself. It’s thinking about yourself less.”
Very cool analysis especially on sloth
Excellent breakdown ! Also listen to a Christian sermon speaking of the devil. The father of lies , deceit, manipulation perfectly describes the narcissist. And the devil stands in plain sight. So does the narcissist! Ty Dr Ramani ! Life is a hassle in itself for me without having to deal with a narcissist. But they’re always showing up seems.
Thank you Dr. Ramani. By far one of your best videos. I just gotta say you’re vocabulary is freaking impressive! Thank you again for teaching us so much.
As usual, excellent analysis. A suggestion: Proverbs full of advice on interpersonal relationships and selfcontrol. In defense of chastity, using people injures them and myself.
Doctor Ramani, your videos have helped me heal after I managed to escape from 2 consecutive narcissistic relationships, one lastig 4 years, the other 9. It made me help put things in perspective, made me stop hoping for closure and look for healthier ways to direct my anger. They helped me realise what actually happened and helped me feel like myself again. Thank you.
Me too. My first relationship was 26 yrs and my second one 13. I’m finally free. I’m just sad that they’ve ruined my desire to even want to try another relationship.
You described exactly what happened when we tried to go to couples therapy. It made things so much worse. The therapist wasn’t willing to even listen to my side of things, making me out to be the one that wasn’t grateful enough or showing him adoration/admiration. The therapist bought into all of his “stories and facades”, hook, line and sinker. I refused to go back and that, in turn, made me the “problem”.
Yikes, I’m happy for you that you got your freedjm back, that can’t have been easy! Mad respect, in fact. When you’re actively being brainwashed for so long, it does feel hopeless, even when it’s over, doesn’t it? I’ve been extremely lucky and found a healthy loving partner, when I didn’t believe it existed anymore. I had trust issues through the roof and he has been very patient and kind. The thing is: I only had space for him after feeling good being all by myself. Thet way I didn’t NEED him, I just liked him being there. I have my own place to live, my job and my friends, we don’t share everything in our lives and that feels great too.
Maybe you will find love again in someone else, but if you don’t, at least you’ll find it with the most important person in your life: YOU.
@ I’m so happy that you were able to find love after all that. I was on my own for 4 years and had everything all in order (house and life I loved) when I thought I found what you have. Unfortunately, the man I thought he was, and who he portrayed himself to be, ended up worse than my first husband. I lost my house, a lot of my possessions, not to mention money, just to escape and live to tell the tale. I wish you all the best.
Dr Ramani I used to doubt everything-myself, my path, even my prayers. Reading Magnetic Spirit by Arthur Solan helped me clear the noise and realign with God’s voice. Once I did that, things that felt blocked for years started moving. So thankful someone recommended it when they did..I just wish I had found this book sooner
Gluttony in the modern era I see as “wealth hording”. It’s gorging yourself while others go without. If you have 50 million dollars you are all set. You can have whatever you want, whenever you want it. Giving you 10K has no impact. If I gave someone 10K who is barely making ends meet? That will drastically improve their entire year.
Continuing to accumulate wealth when you are all set and others don’t have enough is a perfect example of gluttony
That’s how I see it as well.
Yes, and so many people still continue to think this is okay. Is it? Capitalism. I just don’t like it when it gets so out of check and people continue to defend this awful behavior because it’s capitalism. Ugh!!! Just ugh!!!!!
Thank you, Dr. Ramani. This was the best breakdown I’ve come across. I grew up with the 7 Deadlies/7 Virtues in the forefront. I can honestly say, the interpretation never ever made sense to me, This is very, very helpful.
I was taught that being chaste means not “ever” having any sexual needs or thoughts. I have had self loathing over not being in “control” of my body when I was molested and raped. It all came back to my not being “good” enough to have had these things happen to me.
I’m so sorry that happened to you. It certainly was not your fault at all.
I’m so sorry you went through that. It wasn’t your fault. I hope you heal and flourish, may your life be beautiful
So true. Maybe our ancestors were very smart and the Bible is just a warning about narcissism. I think some religions like Buddhism would say they are there to teach us about our weaknesses, but I’m with you Dr Ramani. Religion cannot save you from a narcissist. You can get very hurt, you need to protect yourself.
Working on escaping marriage to a narcissist. Years ago, her therapist allegedly identified me as a narcissist (without ever meeting me!) and the one time I did go did not go well at all – I still got blamed. That therapy clearly helped derail the marriage further and made things worse. Many years later, thank you for the explanations about why.
Brilliant, thank you. What is so amazing is how common and destructive narcissism is, and so obvious that it is the root cause of all of society’s problems for centuries, yet, mainstream society always resists talking about it… You’d think it would be top priority… amazing how that is… what a strange situation…thank you!
Yes Dr. Ramani. God knew about narcissism from the beginning of time. If you do a deep dive in the Bible, the Pharisees were your typical narcissists. Jesus called them out of their arrogant, prideful ways and they represented the religious establishment of the day. Jesus challenged them each time. In 1 Timothy chapter 3, it describes a narcissist completely. The final word, is to stay away from such people.
I still can’t get over how normal & perfect he is around everyone else, ugh
It’s deliberate and calculated.
“Pride goeth before destruction and an haughty spirit before a fall”. Proverbs 16:18
I wondered how long it would take for a psychologist to say this. It all makes so much more sense in a religious system designed to help us transcend the ego.
Wow! Dr. Ramani…that was good! I appreciated the breakdown of the Deadly Sins in relation to Narcissism. I am Catholic and have been struggling with many Narcissistic family members. This helps marry my Catholicism and what I am struggling with psychologically. Very helpful! Helps me make sense of it. It is bringing me some clarity and peace. Two things that I have been praying for. Thank you!!!!!
Re: charity, a priest I know said that “Sometimes you have to love someone from a distance. Loving someone does not mean letting them continue to hurt you.”