Does God suffer from Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

Question

Let's focus on God of the Old Testament for this discussion, okay?

Diagnostic criteria:
At least five of the following are necessary for a diagnosis (as with many DSM diagnoses, they must form a pervasive pattern; for example, a person who shows these criteria only in one or two relationships or situations would not properly be diagnosed with NPD):
1. has a grandiose sense of self-importance
2. is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
3. believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by other special people
4. requires excessive admiration
5. strong sense of entitlement
6. takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends
7. lacks empathy
8. is often envious or believes others are envious of him or her
9. arrogant affect.

Source: www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Narcissistic_personality_disorder

Answer 1

Based on the criteria you have supplied, God wouldn't qualify. I'll address your argument by number.

1. God's sense of importance is justified. Not only is He the creator of the universe, but He is the only creature of his kind that exists in the universe; He has no beginning and no end, He cannot be killed, and He can do anything he wills.

2. God has no fantasies of unlimited success or power. Firstly, He doesn't care about material things; spiritual matters are His main focus. Second, God is omniscient, so he already has unlimited brilliance. The same goes for power. Finally, God doesn't have a female counterpart to love, so, if an infinitely powerful being with the capacity to create anything does not create an ideal love, it is safe to assume that he is not preoccupied with ideal love. Furthermore, there is no proof in the Old Testament that God is preoccupied with ideal love.

3. As the only entity in the universe who has no beginning and no end, can create virtually anything He wishes, and cannot die, God is special. If God believes he is special and unique, His belief is completely justified because given his criteria, he does NOT simply believe he is special, but because of His nature, He KNOWS that he is unique.

4. Okay, one. Still, one criterion down is not sufficient to diagnose anyone with the disease.

5. A strong sense of entitlement would only hint at narcissistic personality disorder if the person who has a sense of entitlement to something is NOT entitled to it. For example, let's say I buy a house, but someone decides to move in and throw me out. I would be justifiably upset; I bought the house, and therefore, I am entitled to it. Still, because I OWN the house and I've worked for the house, my sense is justified and I am therefore not narcissistic.
God probably feels entitled to everything, but His sense of entitlement is fully justified. First, he created everything. Secondly, the Bible says "promotion cometh not from the east or the west..." but that God is the one who rewards anyone's successes in life, and is responsible for the fact that we're alive at all. Not to mention Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Given what God has done and does for us and the fact that He is responsible for our existence, we are eternally in His debt, and we would be virtually obligated to hand over anything God asks us to hand over. God is entitled to all because without Him, we wouldn't have anything we have in the first place.

6. I can't recall an example of that. Can you name one?

7. "For God so loved the world..." etcetera. You must be referring to times when God exterminates an entire population, such as the Amalekites, and Sodom and Gomorrah. Firstly, Sodom and Gomorrah were given ample time to turn from their ways, and they did not. Secondly, the Amalekites earlier in the Old Testament wrongfully attacked Israel. Furthermore, they and others like them were known for terrorizing Israelites, and other civilizations sacrificed humans to their gods. It's obvious that God is only passing judgement on wickedness.

8. You must be referring to the Ten Commandments. It's obvious that God meant that he didn't want them to worship other false gods that didn't exist, for their well-being. God had the Israelites in mind when he issued the commandment.

9. Could you elaborate on this?

Answer 2

a profound statement indeed. however, there is something to be said for a person that can get others to follow them. or maybe it was something to be said about the people that choose to follow. all the same. recorded history is only as it is has been chosen to be remembered, and most times bias in that aspect. basically im saying that jesus may not have used those exact words or in that exact context. to make a diagnosis on such a phrase would be not a diagnosis of jesus, but maybe a diagnosis of those that chose to remember him.

Answer 3

This describes the biblical god with such accuracy that the diagnostic manual should have God as a prime example.

Answer 4

Also if you read the bible with a critical mind you will notice that the god of the bible actually is...

Extremely violent and cruel
Jealous
Murderous
Impetuous
Possessive
Threatening
Irrational
Misogynistic
Irresponsible

All of these are human traits, yet Christians constantly say that "God is far above humans, that we could never understand his motives". Well reading the bible you're supposed to understand his motives, that's where the supposed lessons come from!

Answer 5

Different epochs and arenas of human history have different exigencies, hence different conceptualizations of God. It's not necessary to believe in God to understand this concept.

Answer 6

It is People who believe in god that came up with that not god itself.

Answer 7

No. I'm very empathetic and you can't be envious when you're perfect.

Answer 8

I don't know but Paris Hilton seems to have this also.

Answer 9

god is a figment of your imagination

Answer 10

That is too funny. I never thought of it that way.