3. The I-level

[Manuel]

What is the I? How can we help it replace the ego? What is self-discipline? How can we shape our real character?

[Marlicia]

I enjoyed this chapter immensely. There is so much packed into it. Near as I can tell, the I is the person we truly are, as created in the image and likeness of God, whereas the ego is in the likeness of the world. I have to think a bit about the rest.

God bless...

[Mariangel]

The chapter on the 7 capital sins is very good.

[Manuel]

Marlicia wrote: "I enjoyed this chapter immensely. There is so much packed into it. Near as I can tell, the I is the person we truly are, as created in the image and likeness of God, whereas the ego is in the liken..."

Yes, you got it right, the "I" is what we really are, rather than what we think we are (the "false ego"). But getting the ego replaced by the I is not enough, there is a third step: surrendering the I to God. Without this surrendering, we have got nowhere. The third part of the book deals with this.

[Marlicia]

Mariangel wrote: "The chapter on the 7 capital sins is very good."
I'm looking forward to getting to that chapter. I'm about half way through chapter 3 (Late start, LOL)

God bless...

[Marlicia]

Manuel wrote: "Yes, you got it right, the "I" is what we really are, rather than what we think we are (the "false ego"). But getting the ego replaced by the I is not enough, there is a third step: surrendering the I to God. Without this surrendering, we have got nowhere. The third part of the book deals with this.

That's right...we are aiming to get to the point St Paul talks about when he says, "I live now, not I, but Christ in me." (Hmmm...that is probably more of a paraphrase than a direct quote. :) ) That's really the hard part, isn't it? I once heard someone say that we're all afraid of what we'll lose if we surrender ourselves, our wills, our "I"to God, that we'll become less of who we are, but since we're made in His image and likeness, we wouldn't lose our identity, but find it. I look forward to getting to the third part of the book.

God bless...

[John]

Marlicia wrote: " I once heard someone say that we're all afraid of what we'll lose if we surrender ourselves, our wills, our "I"to God, that we'll become less of who we are, but since we're made in His image and likeness, we wouldn't lose our identity, but find it. I look forward to getting to the third part of the book."

I think that's exactly right. But completely letting go is so hard, isn't it.

[John]

Mariangel wrote: "The chapter on the 7 capital sins is very good."

Yes, it is. Though for me, it isn't quite right to say I "enjoyed" it.

[Jill]

"The 7 pallbearers of character" is a great phrase. But I've always thought they all basically come down to pride, the most fundamental sin with which we all struggle.
I like what he says about finding a single purpose instead of frittering away energies on many superficial things. Reminds me of Kierkegaard, "Purity of heart is to will one thing."
So telling: discouragement comes from wounded self-love.
Interesting contrast between character training (rooting out vices) and education, seizing on gifts and developing talents. Not such a hard-and-fast distinction; he talks elsewhere about finding the smallest trace of goodness (in others!) and appealing to/building on that.
I don't think I agree there's no such thing as a nonreligious person, just religious or antireligious. So many in our era seem indifferent to God and religion.