dubois@uwmacc.UUCP (08/21/84)
Actually, the phrase "holier than thou" does derive from the Bible.
Isaiah 65:1-5, KJV:
I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them
that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a
nation that was not called by my name. I have spread out
my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh
in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; A people
that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that
sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of
brick, which remain among the graves, and lodge in the
monuments, which eat swines' flesh, and broth of abominable
things is in their vessels; which say, stand by thyself, come
not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke
in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.
Hence we may say that there is some legitimacy in the typical
association of this phrase with with religious people.
However, those using it as a term of derogation may not always
know the derogees well enough to meaningfully apply the phrase.
For example:
A couple of years ago a woman told me that I had a holier than thou
attitude for maintaining that Christians should in fact live
according to a higher standard than the rest of the world, and that
in many cases, we do. Was she right? It might be surmised that she
came, in time, to the conclusion that her perception of me could
stand revision, as she is now my wife. And a Christian.
Note: I do not submit this as a pat on the back to myself. But
neither am I going to claim to be completely fault-ridden.
--
Paul DuBois {allegra,ihnp4,seismo}!uwvax!uwmacc!dubois
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist...
Colossians 1:17judy@ut-ngp.UUCP (Judy Ashworth) (08/22/84)
But Paul, aren't the "holier than thou" refered to in that quote the very same people that angered Christ so? Was he not angry with the chief priests and Pharises(sp?) for having just that attitude? Judy ut-ngp!judy
dubois@uwmacc.UUCP (08/23/84)
> [Judy Ashworth] > But Paul, aren't the "holier than thou" refered to in that quote the > very same people that angered Christ so? Was he not angry with the > chief priests and Pharises(sp?) for having just that attitude? Huh? I don't understand what you are saying. I wasn't trying to say the "holier than thou" attitude is a good thing, only that (i) sometimes it is used as an undeserved putdown. (ii) it does originate in the Bible. (ii) Christians *should* live according to a holy standard. And do. Not always, but certainly not never! I may not be getting at your point? -- Paul DuBois {allegra,ihnp4,seismo}!uwvax!uwmacc!dubois And he is before all things, and by him all things consist... Colossians 1:17
judy@ut-ngp.UUCP (08/23/84)
What I meant is that there is a big difference between a righteous person and a SELF-RIGHTEOUS person. I believe that people who truely live by the teachings of Christ should not consider themselves SUPERIOR to others simply because they try to live by a different code of ethics. No matter how much "better" this code of ethics is, Christians should never forget that they too, are sinners, and no "better" than anyone else. I believe that this is what many people get upset about and why they use the "holier than thou" term. In other translations this term may appear as "self-righteous". The chief priests and pharisees were self-righteous because they believed they were better than others whereas Peter for instance could be called righteous because he maintained his humility while striving to "follow" Christ. I believe this is the main reason that Christ prefered the company of the common folk - even prostitutes and tax collecters, to the religous leader of the time. Paul, you seem to be a sincere Christian, I would not label you with the term "holier than thou". One who TRUELY hopes to follow Christ must not forget what he said to the people who wished to stone the adultress, in accordance with Jewish law: "Let he who is WITHOUT sin, cast the first stone." Judy (ut-ngp!judy)