calls "soteriocentrism" in the early 80s, Hick offers ethical criteria for religious truth claims which he (and G.) believe can be found, essentially, in all (or most) religious communities; so the validity of religious beliefs is rooted in their ethical capacity to redirect or convert individuals' and communities' concerns from
self-centeredness to other-centeredness and so to promote a "better" quality of life.
The plot has to do with authentic love, but that love is soon contaminated by the male protagonist's
self-centeredness and blind adherence to a very traditional double standard with regard to sexual behavior.
Future articles will focus on the journey from fear to courage, from darkness to light, from
self-centeredness to presence, from judgment to mercy, from the senseless to the meaningful and from despair to hope.
'We acknowledge the adverse effects on the party's performance in the forthcoming general elections if, the unfortunate situation foisted on the party by the greed and
self-centeredness of a few individuals who place personal interests above party interests is not properly managed'.
(In contrast, the major religions teach selflessness and oppose
self-centeredness. The Lord Jesus Christ reduced the Ten Commandments to two: 'Love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.' In fact, to his disciples, He made the second command even more selfless: 'Love one another as I have loved you.' This means that His disciples must, if needed, die for each other, the way Jesus died for them.
This is metanoia, a radical turning from
self-centeredness to God-centeredness possible only by God's grace and our assent to it.
Cohen believes spirituality may help people's mental health by reducing their
self-centeredness and developing their sense of belonging to a larger whole.
In spite of their bravado and their emphasis on turning from
self-centeredness to other-centeredness Workman's talks will appeal primarily to other Christians who understand the language in which he makes his central points.
It's also useful to examine carefully where our difficulties might be based in
self-centeredness. This will seem ironic to those who give so much of themselves, but workaholism, like all other compulsive behavior, is rooted in a focus on self.
It is a journey from
self-centeredness to God-centeredness--a journey from "me" to "us".
In light of Susan's sheer shopaholic obnoxiousness and
self-centeredness, Alan might feel grateful when he receives her Dear John note.
To be sure, this
self-centeredness is quite different from egotistical selfishness, but not unrelated.