Comments on: Piety, a Character Strength

By: Rachel Morgan

Rachel Morgan — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:46:30 +0000

Sulynn,

Thank you for this wonderful piece of true beauty!
I am currently enrolled in Positive Psychology at North Carolina State University. The class was given assignment to choose an article and ask a question about the article to the author, wait for their response then then write a short paper on our question and the author’s answer. My question would be: What is the difference in obedience and piety? I know obedience is an action that can be done because of duty or performance that might not always come from the heart. Is their any news that shows piety could be considered one of the 24 characters? As a whole are more people upholding piety more or less than generations before?

Thank you,

Rachel Morgan

By: Sylvia Clare

Sylvia Clare — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 23:37:38 +0000

Hi All,
This piece on piety is very interesting – especially in that it allows challenges to injustice and abuses, but I think it is a mix of compassion and humility in essence – I mean these words in the end all overlap rather a lot, don’t they? And I think that it is useful to consider these ideas but not get stuck on making too many lists of words and what they mean and instead find ways of behaving them – being them – thus turning from mere intellectual debate on their respective merits and living it organically within ourselves – which can prove a great deal more challenging!
I do love these discussions though – what does that say about me ?!

Sylvia Clare

By: Sulynn

Sulynn — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 05:15:32 +0000

Madje, I believe that we all have genius and piety within and it just takes awareness and purpose. Adding it as a strength would help in that sense. Then we can all alter the world in our own ways.

Margaret, how fun to have a picnic with your Dad! He’s such a lovely man. I have such wonderful memories of being with your family. Kathryn,EJ asks me the same Q and I give her your grandmother’s response too. Her Chinese name means ‘awareness of piety’ and she’s learning well

Love & Hugs, Sulynn

By: Marje Knudsen

Marje Knudsen — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:38:32 +0000

Sulynn,

A wonderful contribution to the strengths. The idea of it being a strength made me think of this quote from author Ralph Waldo Emerson:
“Every thought which genius and piety throw into the world alters the world.”

Kathryn – I like your grandmothers response… I plan to use it myself. Thanks!

Marjie

By: Kathryn Britton

Kathryn Britton — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:17:23 +0000

Sulynn,
Your writing about filial piety has made me think of me and several of my friends who are struggling to figure out just the right way to help parents in their 80’s. There are many differences, but finding what honors the elder seems to be a common thread. One of my friends, for example, has decided that she doesn’t need to correct her mother when she refers to people long-dead as if they were still alive.

As for reciprocity, I know in my own mind there’s a background thread that I’m modeling for my own kids what I hope they will do for me when my time comes. So it isn’t a direct return and I expect I’d behave the same way even if I didn’t have children. But it’s not that different from the time my grandmother babysat for the three of us preschoolers for a weekend. When my mother asked, “What can I do to repay you?” my grandmother responded, “Do it for your own children some day.”

Kathryn

By: Margaret Greenberg

Margaret Greenberg — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:07:01 +0000

Sulynn – what a beautiful piece to start my day! I love the notion of piety in the “absence of reciprocity” and that grows, like a muscle, by “being used”. I think the opposite of piety is the all too familiar “What’s in it for me?” Thank you for writing such a thoughtful piece.

Last night we celebrated Dad’s 88th b-day with a little picnic here at the house. I’m reminded of how you connected with him on several occassions when you were here in the states, treating him like you would your own father. You are a paragon of piety! Much love, Margaret