Why does the thought of someone striving to achieve "perfection" bother you?

Question

Isn't that the goal of religion and spirituality: to seek to be a better person than you were?

I have to wonder about those who mock: why does it bother you that someone else is striving for "perfection" and is running into difficulties along the way?

Weemary: 1st, I don't know why you assume there is some universal definition for "perfection". For me, "perfection" is me without flaws. Whether that is attainable or not isn't the point. There is no chance for under-achieving if I set the bar high.

2nd, I don't know whom you mean when you refer to "believers". I assume you mean Christians. As I am not one, I don't believe the rest refers to me.

Who is making assumptions here?

Answer 1

It bothers them because they gave up on life... They are the underachievers of society... So keep you mentality the same... keep your attitude, and strive for your perfection.

Answer 2

It doesn't; in fact, I believe that we should strive for perfection "in all things."

However, what does 'bother' (in a sense) me is that most believe that there IS such a thing as 'absolute perfection."

What is 'perfect' to you may not be to me and vice versa.

Also for perfection to be recognized or even exist, there needs to be some kind of measurement/standard of what perfection is or isn't.

I can't help but wonder how it is that imperfect beings as ourselves are able to distinguish and discern what is or isn't perfect or perfection?

I know many will say that 'absolute perfection', and the standard/measurement of perfection is "God" (Jesus, etc.), and I agree that when compared to us they may seem so.

If you chose to introduce yourself to a new concept which is referred to as "relative perfection," and ponder these and other possibilities heretofore never imagined, you can do so by using the following link:

http://www.freeread.com/archives/relative-perfection-quotes.php

FYI: The above URL/link will take you to a page of 'quotes' (or seed thoughts). Once there, and you have read the quote, you can click on the number in front of the quote, and you will be taken to the source document from which the quote was taken.

Here's some samples of the kind of 'seed thoughts' you will find at the above source:

1. "Orthodox Christians say that Jesus was perfect because he obeyed all the laws but the Bible says 'The law made NOTHING perfect.'"

2. An injunction to be flawless as is the One God who holds the universe together, and created all the millions of galaxies is like telling a worm to be like a man.

3. We want to make the leap to perfection in one step because the picture painted by some inspired book looks so beautiful and true we cannot bear to live with our imperfect selves another instant.

4. The word equivalent to the modern word perfect is AKRIBELA and if you check your Bible Concordance you will not find this word ever used in connection with God or Jesus.

5. What perfection is, is different for each person. To the Jews who crucified Jesus, He was one of the most imperfect beings who ever lived. To the born again Christian, He is completely flawless.

6. Ultimate Perfection is an illusion and actually undesirable. If we were to live in a state where there could not exist a goal to progress even higher then there would be no joy in living.

7. It is only after many attempts at trial and error, and then learning from mistakes, that relative perfection is finally obtained.

8. God cannot create a perfect world for you and me because we define and see perfection differently. A perfect world to one may be hell to another.

Note: All of the above quotations are copyrighted material.

There are also many more new and interesting ideas found in the below source links as well.

Regards,

Bryan

Answer 3

Because it is a sloppy use of the word. The word "perfect" is fairly meaningless outside of really strict definitions. You can talk about a perfect circle or perfect isohedron, because they are strictly defined. They can even be discussed as an abstract concept though no perfect circles are known in reality. However, how do you define a perfect person? Which variation of human is the model for perfection? God is even more vaguely defined. To say that God is perfect is even less meaningful.

BTW, religion is not about trying to attain perfection. If that were true, religious people would spend more time working on themselves than others. In fact, religion keeps itself going by gaining and keeping converts. It does that through emotional manipulation, including childhood indoctrination. It is more about promoting in-group thinking than attaining "perfection".

Answer 4

There's so much wrong with your assumptions, on so many levels.

First: Perfection is useless to humans. We're not suited to it. Did you see "The Matrix"? Remember what Smith tells Neo about the first version of the matrix? It was paradise -- and it had to be discarded because the humans couldn't stand living in it. Yeah, I know it's only a movie; but it makes sense to me.

Second: I haven't actually heard any believers claiming that it's perfection they're after. What they really want is immortality. And they'll sign up with any sweaty-palmed huckster who says, "why, friend, YOU don't deserve to die! and if you'll jest buy what Ah'm selling, then you won't have to!"

Seriously -- why isn't this mockable? In a kind of sad way, of course...

Answer 5

It doesn't bother me, because I know that the statement is nonsensical to begin with. True perfection does not and will never exist, at least not in the material plane.

When someone says that, I simply interpret it as "striving for excellence" or "striving for optimal performance under given conditions".

Now if you truly believe you CAN achieve perfection, then you've got a problem.

Answer 6

I think the state of 'perfection' as an absolute, is never achievable.
The 'striving for perfection' usually is a 'mask' for - striving for 'recognition' or 'acceptance' and 'love' from another.
I know this because i myself have been a perfectionist most of my life. It's the hardest thing in the world to relax and accept because there is always an unconscious force that drives the need to be better.When it becomes too much to keep up - then is the time to stop and think - 'Why am i doing this? What is this thing that drives me? Can i now see from where i am now, the point in my life that triggered this behaviour and is the need to be perfect still relevant. Do i really want to stop the striving?

......But then again, maybe the 'need to be perfect' has to be lived to be understood, to allow us to then come to the conclusion that - 'I AM PERFECT AS I AM' (perceived 'flaws' and all) - because if it wasn't for my 'flaws' i wouldn't be me! So if there is only one exactly the same as me - i have to be perfect !

Maybe the drive for 'perfection' is really manifested from a non acceptance of ourselves and a need to become someone we see as more desirable than we see ourselves.

I think most people are bothered when they see someone with a deep desire for perfection ( most perfectionists are successful too) because they themselves feel they are in an unbalanced relationship - ' i can see someone who seems to be 'better'/'more gifted'/'more efficient'/'more desirable' than me and i feel 'more disadvantaged' than i felt before we met and so i need to assert myself to even up the balance.

My way of explaining the difficulties and knocks we encounter in our drive to reach 'perfection' - just the Universe reminding us ..............
'Hey! To keep the balance - when you are above yourself, I have no option but to bring you back to Earth!'

Answer 7

If someone is trying to be perfect they are in for a disappointing life. You should try to be a better person, not just for yourself, but for others around you. No one is perfect, we are human after all and we are going to make plenty of mistakes along the way :)

Answer 8

I should strive for perfection only in myself and not in others. The virtuous can be faulty and the faultless need not be virtuous. A child is hardly perfect but it is so lovable. And all my striving for perfection should not be ego driven or wanting look perfect. It should come naturally through self- realization.

Answer 9

No human can achieve perfection. Perfection most believe is god and none of us will be god. To work to be the best person one can be is attainable and desireable. If one thinks he has become perfect and proclaims it, i can tell you he has the flaw of vanity.

Answer 10

The goal of religion is not to be perfect but forgiven, repentant and change into a new being. "Old wineskin into new wineskin" used in the Bible. For some striving for perfection can lead to reverting back because it is impossible to be perfect.