"The Truth Will Set You Free" series of sermons presents sermon #007 on The Sin of Ego.

Main Entry: ego
Pronunciation: 'E-go'
Function:
1 a : excessive use of the first person singular personal pronoun b : the practice of talking about oneself too much
2 : an exaggerated sense of self-importance
3 : similar to arrogance - an attitude of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or in presumptuous claims or assumptions

Honored brothers and sisters of Amarr I come to you today to discuss a great sin and what we must do to conquer it. That sin is EGO. This sin is often apparent in those who think they are better than anyone else. But this is based on perception versus fact such as the fact Amarrians are chosen and actually are better than everyone else.

Still even an Amarr can suffer the sin of Ego and fall into the pit of despair as a hated individual among men. We all serve Amarr and are greatful for the opportunities our Empire gives us. Likewise though we are humble in our service. As my semon on humilty mentioned it is fine to know you are the chosen of God but you must still maintain some level of humility.

Yet for the lost soul afflicted with EGO behavior it is not that easy. This person is obsessed with winning everything. We've all seen the little kids on the playground playing a game of oneupmanship. "Well my dad is a Freighter Navigator"... "well mine is a Titan Captain".... "well my dad owns a Titan".

Likewise these are people who are incapable of ever admiting they've made a mistake. False pride and Ego makes them oblivious to the truth around them. Ego is a bad thing and will destroy a person from the inside out as they are isolated from the community of Amarrians who serve. Those with inflated Ego are obsessed with being the "best" and being the center of attention. Everything should be focused on them and they should have the repuation, the legacy, the renown, no one else.

When this fails they become jealous and irrational. Mental illness can take hold as the Egomaniacal individual acts in more and more obsessive ways. The focus to be "the one" everyone notices and to be "the best" can kill a persons soul from the inside out.

Brothers and sisters do not fall into this trap. Those with inflated Ego are in reality insecure. Insecure about their own lives, their own position, their own reputation. Deep down they know the truth and they know the faults they have but they continually try to disguise them with the contiuous game of oneupmanship.

But no one is fooled.

When I see Amarrians say "I'm better then you" I have to ask myself is this fact based on social standing and religious standing (truth) or is it an inflated ego running amok trying to be something they in reality are not (fiction). It is actually pretty easy to see the truth after all as the person speaking truthfully will also show humility. The person with the inflated ego never shows humility.

Likewise you can identify the person of inflated ego by the way they speak to people. Do they swear and take the name of God in vain? Do they talk down to people of higher status or try to use a large vocabulary in an effort to hide their lack of educational attainment? With the purveyor of inflated ego it often the case you will find hypocrisy. When outright lies are evidenced you'll find the subject deftly changed. The egomaniac doesn't want to deal with any truth that could bring them down thus the reason they never show humility.

Another tactic to watch for that is spread by those of inflated ego is the sin of trying to demean others to inflate themselves. This is very similar to the playground bully who picks on the weakest child. When we examine that bully however we find a disturbed youngster with no social skills, no morality and no upbringing of any merit. That bully was trying to make himself feel better by becoming the powerful "attacker" of the weak. Still the truth is obvious and the bully is indeed the "weak" one. Still it is common to see those with inflated ego personally attack others with flailing hopeless attempts to bring them down thus bringing themselves up and you must be on guard.

Brothers and sisters I implore you to stay true to God and do not let personal pride stand in the way of service. Do not let personal desire for notoriety bring you to the shameful lifestyle of Ego. Remember there is a difference between the righteous arrogance of the Amarr as the chosen race and the self-glorifications of Ego.

Do not fall into sin. Show humility and accept your own place in life with pride. You are not a failure if you do your best and are true to God and Empire. Do not let the liars and decievers of inflated Ego make you feel otherwise lest you fall into the same pit of trash they are already wallowing in. After all they are the last people anyone would want to be.

Stay true to God.... God bless you all.

Archbishop
PIE Priest