I asked Google’s AI to tell me what humility means in Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism.
With some rewriting to fix what I see as grammatical errors, here is what it spat out:
In Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism, humility is considered a foundational virtue, generally involving a proper perspective of oneself in relation to a higher power or the universe, leading to service, respect for others, and self-awareness rather than self-abasement.
Christianity
In Christianity, humility is essential for receiving God’s grace and is epitomized by the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who humbled himself to the point of death on a cross for the sake of others.
Key Concepts: Humility is about recognizing one’s sinfulness and complete dependence on God. It involves setting aside selfish ambition, pride, and conceit to serve others and give glory to God.
Practice: Christians are encouraged to imitate Christ’s example, focusing on the needs of others, being teachable, and submitting to God’s will. The Bible teaches that “whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12).
Judaism
Judaism views humility (anavah) as a sign of strength and a key to wisdom and honor, rather than thinking poorly of oneself.
Key Concepts: Humility means having an accurate self-assessment, recognizing one’s gifts as divine blessings, and understanding one’s place in the vastness of creation and before God. This is further defined as “not thinking of oneself” when in the presence of the majesty of God or the worth of other people.
Practice: A prime example is Moses, described as “exceedingly humble, more than any man on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3). A humble person focuses on the greater whole, utilizing their talents for a higher purpose and respecting the inherent worth of others.
Islam
Humility is a core virtue in Islam, with the very word “Islam” often interpreted as “surrender to God.”
Key Concepts: True humility (tawadu and khoshou) stems from fully grasping God’s perfection and one’s own human weaknesses and dependence on the Creator for all things. Arrogance is seen as the root of evil.
Practice: Humility is physically manifested during the Salat (five daily prayers), where Muslims prostrate themselves on the ground, a physical act of submission and a reminder of their lowliness before Allah. Believers are described in the Qur’an as those “who walk on the earth in humility” (Qur’an 25:64).
Buddhism
In Buddhism, humility is both a practice and an outcome of the path to enlightenment, which focuses on the cessation of suffering caused by the self or ego.
Key Concepts: Humility is a result of self-examination and understanding the concepts of śūnyatā (emptiness) and anatta (non-self). It is not about self-abasement, but about being “unselved,” or liberated from the consciousness of a permanent, individual self.
Practice: Humility manifests as a balanced personality, free from pride or low self-esteem, showing compassion (karuna) and empathetic joy. Monks practice humility by relying on laypeople for their basic needs and accepting criticism easily.