Pride is a dangerous thing. It causes some to boast, some to refuse to admit their failure and faults, and all of us to falter in sin.
In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote, “The essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere flea-bites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.”
Do you agree with Lewis that pride is the root of all evil and sin?
Tags: C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Pride
April 28th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
I agree. If you look into the old testament, all of the things that made God angry had something to do with people taking matters into their own hands. Whether it was worshipping idols, or going to war without God’s consideration. Anything that makes God seem to be of no necessity made Him angry. Pride is the root of all of that, and if you think about it, Pride can lead to any sin, just like Lewis says.
April 28th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Yeah. Dr. Woodard once said that his wife believed selfishness to be the root of every sin. Since then, that’s exactly the view I’ve held. And since pride and selfishness are practically one in the same then I would say that yes to C.S. Lewis’ view.
April 28th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Milton makes the argument that the first sin of Adam and Eve was lust after they ate the fruit. I would argue that it is lust too becaue James 1:14-15 says “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Satan lusted after God’s power and this produced pride.
April 29th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Jared – would not pride be at the root of their lust? I think at the base of all sin, the root of selfishness and pride have its grip. It answers the question as to why we do sin.IMHO.