What is purposefulness based on? In order to achieve something in life, you need to be able to set goals and stubbornly follow them, despite all the difficulties that meet along the way. In a sense, vanity is a good quality in order to succeed in life, because such a person always needs proof that he is better than others. But why, then, does religion oppose this character trait? And for starters, what is vanity?
The meaning of the word and its difference from ambition and pride
According to the explanatory dictionary, this quality reflects a person’s need to strive for fame and success and a thirst for recognition and a beautiful life. As you can see by definition, it is common to all people, but only to a different extent. The meaning of the word “vanity” presupposes the light and dark side of this human quality. On the one hand, it can make a person get up from the couch and start actively doing something. But on the other hand, conceited people often try to seem more than to be. This happens in two cases: if they managed to achieve something in life or, on the contrary, are unlucky in anything. In this case, they come up with an excuse and look down on everyone, believing in their own unsurpassed. Vanity is a quality that is often accompanied by ambition and pride. Ambition implies a desire to be better than others, and pride makes a person consider himself better than others, regardless of the real situation. As you can see, in the optimal amount such qualities are needed by any person.
Is vanity one of mortal sins?
As we figured out, this quality has many positive aspects, however, why does Christianity advocate the eradication of such traits in character? More precisely, even two mortal sins are suitable for the definition of vanity: pride, which makes others despise and exalt oneself, and love of money, i.e. love for a beautiful life. Vanity is a character trait that must be constantly monitored, because the line between its positive and negative influence is very thin. If helping people, you expect praise, and more and more often get offended by criticism, then be careful and do not let this line of your character blur your mind.
