Are you a hypocrite?
This is the result of a recent discussion with my sister. Once again she was going off on how she hates organized religions (and yes, as many of you know, I'm married to an Anglican priest) because of the many hypocrites. I argued that any time you have a group with stated ideals, you have a prime ground for hypocrites. They are not restricted to organized religons.
I was set off when she said "The one thing no one can say about me is that I am a hypocrite." I cried foul, because while she says she is accepting of all religious and spiritual beliefs, she gives me nothing but crap about mine. So, essentially she's accepting of all beliefs except the ones she isn't accepting of - huh? But back to the topic at hand.
For the purposes of this discussion, let's say hypocrites are those who claim to hold certain standards, but who fail to live up to them all the time.
My argument is that EVERYONE is a bit of a hypocrite (I wish I could rewrite "Everyone's a little bit racist" from Ave. Q!) or, if they are not, their standards are too low. "A man's reach must exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?" to quote Robert Browning.
As a Christian, I acknowledge that I am a sinner who is forgiven only through the Grace of God , not through my own merit. I profess to hold Jesus as my exemplar, but know full well I am not 100% in compliance with my ideals.
I think that the issue of whether or not someone is a hypocrite boils down to whether or not someone is honestly trying to live up to their self-professed standards. An occasional slip-up does not a hypocrite make - but a continuing pattern of failing to live up to your standards does.
So Elliot Spitzer - hypocrite.
Me saying unchristian things about the sports car that cut me off - ?
What qualifies someone as a hypocrite in your book?
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