Christian Phrenology: A Guide to Self-KnowledgeBunney, Joseph
Religion
Christian Phrenology: A Guide to Self-Knowledge
Bunney, Joseph
Phrenology
Self Esteem rightly exercised confers self respect, a due regard to rank
or station, and induces confidence in one's own abilities; the organ is
placed just at the top or crown of the head. When exercised in a right
way, it imparts a degree of self-satisfaction, and enables us to apply our
powers to the best advantage in whatever station we are placed; it leads
to self esteem, so that the individual contemns every action that is base
and unworthy of an exalted mind; it restrains from forming improper
connections, and this too when the moral qualities are not sufficient.
When the organ is too small, the individual is bashful, has no reliance on
himself, and from rating his abilities too low, gets them rated less. When
large, it produces egotism, pride, hauteur, and self conceit. Combined
with good moral sentiments, it is a valuable organ. In ABUSE it tends to
self-love, self-will, and uncharitableness; and towards others contempt,
disdain, and tyranny; it is a mortal enemy to Christian love and peace.
38. LOVE OF APPROBATION.
This faculty regards the opinion that other persons form of us: the organ
is situated on each side of _Self esteem_ about half an inch from the
lambdoidal suture: it produces the desire of approbation, admiration,
praise and fame: it renders us anxious to please those whose approval we
esteem, and to excel in whatever pursuit our associates admire. If well
balanced by conscientiousness and veneration, it seeks the approval of the
Great Judge of all things, by becoming worthy of eternal life: a due
endowment is indispensable to an amiable character. In ABUSE it tends to
vanity, a thirst for praise and flattery, a dread of the world's opinion,
and a too easy giving way to the ways of the world to obtain the applause
of the worthless;--the faculty is cultivated by the system of rewards for
merit offered in youth,--it is not often the abstract value of the object
so much as the approbation of those who know us. This organ causes
bashfulness or _Mauvaise Honte_, and produces the fear of doing wrong,
which it often originates by over anxiety to do well; it requires to be
closely watched, as it leads to _envy_, one of the most subtle and
dangerous passions, that afflict man in his fallen state; it stirs up the
animal propensities and the earthly affections, overcoming the superior
sentiments; the man who endeavours to seek the applause of others should
remember that his Redeemer said, "And whosoever of you be the chief, let
him be the servant of all." The faculty requires to be cultivated and
regulated by conscientiousness, guided by the understanding to seek the
applause of the good, and influenced by the spirit to seek the applause
that is all in all to the christian, "Well done thou good and faithful
servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
39. SOPHISTRY.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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