Kultur der Selbstachtung

Abstract

In the past three decades psychology has been showing the
significance of a positive sense of one’s own value for life satisfaction
among children, youth and adults and has worked out
methods helpful in becoming aware and realizing one’s own
needs and rights. The aim is not to support egocentric or narcissistic
attitudes, but to prevent a feeling of dejection and lack of
happiness. What is the meaning of such cultivation of the sense
of one’s own value? According to Kant’s mind ethics, man is
obliged to provide himself with „moral recognition” and to guard
his dignity. Theological ethics and spirituality supplement this
one-sidedly moral justification of cultivating respect for yourself
and shows that man should respect himself in his whole as
„likeness” of the Creator and His „friend”, loved by the Son of
God „to the uttermost”, for whom He laid down His life (John
13, 1; 15, 13-15). Together with this God he should love himself
and avoid any self-depreciation. Christian spirituality may make
this message more effective if it listens to what psychology says
about the threats to the sense of one’s own value.