Reading an interesting book, The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement, by Jean Twenge and Keith Campbell, where they describe the steep increase in American narcissism between the period of 1979 and 2006, with the greatest rise during 2000-2006.

Some pretty rugged assessments about America and Americans as they summarize their research findings;

"American culture's focus on self-admiration has caused a flight from reality to the the land of grandiose fantasy. We have phone rich people (with interest-only mortgages and piles of debt), phone beauty (with plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures), phony athletes (with performance drugs), phony celebrities (via reality TV and YouTube), phony genius students (with grade inflation), a phony national economy (with $11 trillion of government debt), phony feelings of being special among children (with parenting and education focused on self-esteem), and phony friends (with the social networking explosion). All of this fantasy might feel good, but unfortunately, reality always wins."

Work hard y'all to combat what is all around us! Teach your families. Lead them well.
These stats are eye-opening, but victory is assured.

Blessings!
Mark

I hope for the victory but as of now it looks like we are losing the war.

I dont think self admiration is why people try to impress people they don't know. Buying a big diesel pickup when they don't ever pull a trailer, big bucks for jeans with holes in them, looking for attention by riding bicycles on main roads and hiways and causing traffic problems. IMO its low self esteem caused by too much TV. TV becomes a sort of reality and nobody's life meets the TV standard so they attempt to compensate.

Look at the reality shows that in reality are scripted and manipulated. Still pretty popular though. Hunting shows often referred to on TMan are a prime example. People watch TV so much they feel like a failure if their life doesn't emulate the fantasy created by writers.

There’s a lot more to it than most people think. This is the best definition that I’ve seen in the best video on it
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=emb_title&time_continue=696&v=q1lClgIfA9U

Yes and now narcissism resides in a white house

Yes and trump has done more than any other up there could have done, In the same time frame With more compassion and drive and empathy for the American people.

The prior resident was a bigger narcissist.

You? There's more white houses in America than any other color . Nice attempt at an insult though.

What do you think Trump could have got done if the Dumbocrats hadn't fought him every day of his Presidency ?

X2. He still is.

You left out religion.

they are what i call fake people never show what they really are just want to put on a show to impress other people most of the time they fall short and truth comes out

Anyone who has a strong enough desire for power to pursue it through the enormously draining election process we now have is probably going to have some deep personality flaws.

Religion is fertile grounds for the best of narcissist's. What a perfect pool for evolution to exist, where the big fish eat the little fish. Often we don't know we are there until we are told when we hear the music, we are to fall to our knees. Even then when you have been gaslighted to the point of no return the narcissist has you convinced its your fault. He will try to convince you its your sin that has brought your happy place to the point of destruction where the boar of the woods comes into make havoc of your world turning it upside down. He will never forget your past nor let you (Jonestown). He will try to blackmail you into submission, mowing you like fresh tender grass.

Seems hopeless at times and then you call on a higher power or maybe a big brother to help you and the boar is put back in his place where he can't uproot the fresh grass and the lambs can once again graze in peace.

True words, for sure.

Shalom is the goal.
God desires it.
We desire it but can't acquire due to sin (ours and the worlds).

On the 7th day, the Lord rested.
He wasn't tired. Might have just wanted a bit of Shalom.

I wouldn't call all trappers thieves just because Johnny Sneakum stole my trap.
That would not be accurate.

Why would you include all religious under one banner and paint all with one brush stroke?
That would not be accurate.

Blessings,
Mark

Part of the whole brain washing process teaches us to be negative and seek the worst as in religion and not the good, maybe Ol' Slewfoot is the king of narcissist.

This makes little sense unless you were ministered to by someone ill-equipped to teach/preach the Good News of the Gospel message = Like taking trapping lessons from a ski instructor.

Sadly, there have been people in religion, as there are people in trapping, who are in it for the wrong reasons, but I like trapping and love the Lord anyway.
The bad apples are simply that. Bad.
Why would it effect my taste buds, unless I judge my fondness for trapping on what others do to me and my traps, or steer my love of the Lord based on what others (who are not the salt and light they should be) did/do/will do?

Blessings,
Mark

Looks like you confused "man's religion" with the bible.

I know, it's a big book. Full of ancient writings from a foreign language. A fair portion of which is poetry.

It's not a light read, more like a life study.

Rejecting it, as the world has, is what has us in our current state.

I'd be more careful about putting so much trust in man to show me what the bible says.

(The bible actually says a lot about that)

At what point in time does a wolf become a wolf. At one time the sheep died for the shepherd and then things reversed and the Shepherd died for the sheep. It still doesn't mean the wolf don't try nor that they don't exist. Not to say that crying wolf all the time will ever get one any place, because after a time no one will listen. But at the same time one can't just bury his heads in the sand and say all is well. When God asked Satan where he had been when he was trying to tempt Job, and he said gong to and fro in the earth. Its my thought he goes to and fro up and down the church isles today. Its his business to convince the repentant sinner he is not forgiven. That is where the leverage starts and whose sin is the greatest. It happens all the time, big and little congregations. First thing you know the hedge blows open and the whole thing burst open like a flood.

Surely one has to acknowledge there is a difference in religion and salvation. Religion constantly attempts raising man up putting God in a box. Most church noise I've ever heard all ends up at a difference over a word or two. The little word "is" takes years of education just to discuss its meaning. Surely I can't imagine what the argument would be over discussing whether or not Jesus is your bigger brother, lol.