Narcissism & Religion- A perfect match?

Question

When your quest in life is to secure a seat in heaven and all your actions in this life are driven by the desire to live forever with God, would it be fair to say you are a narcissist?

Answer 1

The diagnostic criteria of NPD are (my comments in parentheses):

1) has a grandiose sense of self-importance (fostered perhaps by being the prize in the war between the good and evil deities)

2) is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love (heaven)

3) believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by other special people (ie other Christians)

4) requires excessive admiration (not all but some)

5) strong sense of entitlement (as in thinking their principles should be legislated to the rest of us, and their symbols put up everywhere)

6) takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends (iffy, but could be argued)

7) lacks empathy (towards other religions, homosexuals, etc)

8) is often envious or believes others are envious of him or her (anyone who says they will be in heaven while others are in hell are guilty of this)

9) arrogant behavior (often, especially those who talk down to non-believers)

You only need 5 of the 9 to be diagnosed... I'd say there's a good case here for your statement. Not all Christians, of course, many are not like this, but the fundies for certain.

Answer 2

When your quest in life is to disprove God's existence and claim that everything in the world is here by chance and pure luck - and therefor you are your own God - is that a perfect match with narcissism?
I may desire to live forever, but I see that as a burden of my creation - you know, the ability of the body to heal itself and the fact that God had originally created humans with the ability to live forever and all that jazz.
I don't stare at the mirror every day and say "I get to do whatever I want today because I am my own God."

Answer 3

Absolutely. Christianity is the worst kind of selfishness. It's also totally amoral - the single standard of conduct is whether or not you "believe in Jesus," and the sole reason for doing so is to secure a good seat in God's Clubhouse when you die. Faith before works! This is why Jesus is such a popular guy in prison and rehab.

Answer 4

Narcissism is not purely 'manly' yet also mandatory, needed. each and every minister, politician, television weatherman, actor, police officer, and practically another male of the species who's truly worth his salt is narcissistic. it truly is what makes the guy! women anybody isn't interested in wimps, geeks, and adult adult males who spend their lives bent over a computing gadget for hours and hours and wasted hours.

Answer 5

Maybe, if that were so. But that's not why people follow and worship God.

I am not trying to get a seat in heaven. I love God, and because of that I do not want to offend him. It has nothing to do with gaining something for myself and everything to do with him. So no, it's not narcissistic.

Answer 6

If you think that's all there is to Christianity then you're totally missing the point. People who've sacrificed their lives for the good of others (like Mother Teresa, just to name one) can hardly be called narcissists.

Answer 7

Absolutely!

Answer 8

YES. If I may point out to you, He already knows this right along with every other part about. Trust me, I will be the same way there! Except the only difference is, I will have the Creator by my side to do it all with. He is the jeslous one. Not me!

EDIT:

Answer 9

I don't knoiw but I'll tell you this. I've seen some extremely bad behavior coming from devout Chirstians who think all they have to do is repent afterwards.

Answer 10

Yes I always fall asleep in church!!!!