Maslow vs. Jesus
There are a few differences between the whole philosophy of self-actualization behind Maslow's hierarchy of needs and what Jesus describes as becoming an apostle, maturing spiritually, etc. Actually, the more I think about it, the more I think that they're almost opposites. The only thing that holds them together is that they purportedly make you a better person, which is arguable in both cases. But I'm not going to go all GK Chesterton and dissemble every last difference with wit and aplomb. Aplomb is tough work.
The number one difference I can think of is why? Maslow says it's to fulfill your own awesomeness potential (roughly), after everything else is taken care of (food, shelter, security, self-expression, etc.). It's like maxing out your stats, running a 3:20 mile., or becoming as smart as Einstein and Hawking. But Christianity says that the goal is to be filled with the nature of Jesus, to be made in His likeness and to further His purposes. To extract out all the religio-talk, it is to be like Mike, I mean, Christ. Not just like him, though, but to be him through the Spirit, and to do the same things that Jesus would do, not that you want to do.
Maybe it's there, whose will takes over, that actually is important. I'd suppose that Maslow's uberman (mixing philosophies) does whatever he wants, but the Christian does what God wants. Man, if that actually happened with every Christian the world would be a little different. But then again, only six people got to be self-actualized, so I guess not many people are going to be good at this Christian thing.
Me included, but that's part of the point. That's for later.
The number one difference I can think of is why? Maslow says it's to fulfill your own awesomeness potential (roughly), after everything else is taken care of (food, shelter, security, self-expression, etc.). It's like maxing out your stats, running a 3:20 mile., or becoming as smart as Einstein and Hawking. But Christianity says that the goal is to be filled with the nature of Jesus, to be made in His likeness and to further His purposes. To extract out all the religio-talk, it is to be like Mike, I mean, Christ. Not just like him, though, but to be him through the Spirit, and to do the same things that Jesus would do, not that you want to do.
Maybe it's there, whose will takes over, that actually is important. I'd suppose that Maslow's uberman (mixing philosophies) does whatever he wants, but the Christian does what God wants. Man, if that actually happened with every Christian the world would be a little different. But then again, only six people got to be self-actualized, so I guess not many people are going to be good at this Christian thing.
Me included, but that's part of the point. That's for later.