Do Christians think they are better than non-Christians?

Question Religion

Do Christians think they are better than non-Christians?

by Körïnthïän Posted October 09, 2008 14:56:52

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+23 raves

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What the bible says aside, I have often felt a condescension from Christians when they explain that I don't know "the truth" and that I will be sorry when I die. And like in many other things, having this "knowledge" can lead to smugness.

*** I'd be especially interested to know what ex-Christians think about this. ***
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+7 raves mavericky ~ In Godot We Trust October 09, 2008 15:15:45

Answered: Yes.
Some do not... but, many of them do. If you "knew" all of the secrets of the universe, wouldn't you think other people were idiots?
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+1 raves
Körïnthïän to hdsporty October 10, 2008 16:45:28

Rawr!
+4 raves
WILLIAM October 09, 2008 17:34:09

Answered: No.
Christians who are true to their teachings do not pretend to think that they are better.Not all christians are hypocrytes no more than all muslims are terrorists.
+3 raves
Körïnthïän October 09, 2008 17:04:27

Answered: Yes.
I have gotten that impression quite often.

You never gets as fast to the core of what a Christian believes as when you piss them off.
+1 raves
11♥Isis... to Körïnthïän October 09, 2008 17:33:09

I have actually seen the reverse of what you just said.
+2 raves
BAMAGIRL to Körïnthïän October 09, 2008 17:43:34 (edited)

That's true Korinthian, but it's true with any man I think... one of my favorites quotes is: "A mans true character is shown in the face of adversity".
+1 raves
Körïnthïän to BAMAGIRL October 09, 2008 17:47:54

I agree. But for some unknown reason I tend to see many pissed off Christians.
BAMAGIRL to Körïnthïän October 09, 2008 17:58:49

These days I'm just seeing a lot of pissed off people in general.....LOL... Christianity just so happens to have a lot of followers... If you take a large group of anything you'll find some bad apples... I think its unfair to stereotype collectively though... I wouldn't want anyone trying to convince me that my religion is wrong, so I respect others right to choose. I don't understand why a few fellow Christians have a hard time with that concept.
+3 raves
Torchy October 09, 2008 17:01:47 (edited)

Answered: No.
Personally, no, I don't think I'm better. I can't prove wholly that I'm right. It all stems down to beliefs and speaking from a debate stance, if the best argument I can come up with is "that's what I believe as an individual" or "everything had to start somewhere," that's pretty pathetic. I don't trust the Bible, how can I feel superior to someone if I can't even trust the main 'guidelines' of my religion? Besides, I feel that there is too much I can learn from other people and other religions to completely shut myself away from it and using my own faith to do so.

And I've been threatened with hell-fires too, nasty smugness and all; apparently I'm not Christian enough. So, as with your poll question: I think many Christians do feel that sense of superiority. Even inter-faith, where branches feel 'closer to God' than other branches (Catholics over Protestants, etc.). You can't please everybody! But, who cares what they think? They're not God...and I imagine God is probably laughing his ass off if he looks down and sees the popularity contest people have created for themselves in his name.
+2 raves
PigsOnSoma October 09, 2008 16:58:10

Answered: Other.
Some do some don't.
+2 raves
kmay October 09, 2008 16:57:14 (edited)

Answered: No.
Christians are no better.... they just know better.
+5 raves
SparkleyPie *Mojo is my hom... October 09, 2008 16:39:55

Answered: Yes.
It has been my experience that the majority of them do. Their belief that non-Christians have no moral compass is evidence of that fact.
+4 raves
RealityApologist October 09, 2008 16:27:11

Answered: Yes.
Smugness is inevitable when you think you've got The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing But The Truth.
+1 raves
Antoinette to Reality... October 09, 2008 18:15:15 (edited)

That depends on what the Truth is.
+1 raves
Reality... to Antoinette October 09, 2008 18:30:06

Perhaps. Even if The Truth contains the maxim "one ought not be smug about knowing the truth," though, it's easy to see how that little bit could be ignored.
+2 raves
thewrit October 09, 2008 16:13:19

Answered: Other.
some, not all. but some non-christians think they are better than christians too.

ignorance has no religious borders.
+2 raves
ricachet October 09, 2008 15:58:22

Answered: Yes.
yes of course they do. Next question; Do Athiests think they're better then non-Athiests?
+1 raves
Körïnthïän to ricachet October 09, 2008 16:09:43

You know why that's different? If you don't you should go read how the bible tells you to act.
+2 raves
Hairles... to Körïnthïän October 09, 2008 17:13:02

no its really not different,, its just one ego bumping up against anouther as they both shout they are better than the other.
+1 raves
Körïnthïän to Hairles... October 09, 2008 17:21:48

Atheists aren't bound by some divine code of conduct, and we aren't chosen or anything like that.

Also we do not believe we have special magical powers that allows us insights about what god wants and what happens after death.

It is pretty different, actually.
+2 raves
Hairles... to Körïnthïän October 09, 2008 17:27:56

Humm,, interesting.

Well,, frankly I understand most athiests disgust with religion. I mean how do some people rationalize, as you said, that their god "wants" or "needs" something from THEM,, tiny puny and often very faulty little beings? How can you call your god "Perfect, Omnipitant, and Unerring" if it "NEEDS" or 'WANTS'? That makes no sense.... thats not perfection. Thats not my God.
+1 raves
Rebecca October 09, 2008 15:51:13

Answered: Yes.
I think that particular viewpoint is strongest when you get to the more fundamentalist branches of Christianity. They foster an “us -vs- them” policy that does indeed give them a level of smugness that they are in the right, all the time, and its ok to screw over someone who isn’t one of them. They can be nice people…but it is a subtle smug condescension that I feel sometimes coming from them. I’m not affected by it, but I know they are doing it.
SPITZII October 09, 2008 15:48:56

Answered: Yes.
I think yes, a majority do. Unfortunately that is a huge injustice to the those around who witness this act of snobbery or the oh holier that thou attitude that could possibly be saved from the pits of hell. This also goes way beyond parallel to the teachings of Jesus Christ himself. Judge not lest ye be judged. Love thy neighbor as thy self. Jesus himself met loads of opposition but we (as christians act as though we are better than the man himself) which is really sad. I wish it wasn't way because we are all guilty of sin, we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, we are all as filthy rags, but through the blood of Jesus Christ and Jesus Alone are we all forgiven if we just ask, accept him and believe and walk as best we can, we all will be brothers and sisters in glory.
+2 raves
Pierced Princess is now a m... October 09, 2008 15:42:02

Answered: Yes.
More so 'know' better. They think they have all the answers and are brainwashed into thinking they are going to heaven and if you don't believe in God you are a bad and evil person.

I guess that it's not the same for all christians but the majority that I have had experience with I felt they have been looking down on me and telling me i'm a bad person for not believing in God
+1 raves
Körïnthïän to Pierced... October 09, 2008 16:08:51

New avatar! But no smile :-(

Do your piercings allow you to smile?
+1 raves
Pierced... to Körïnthïän October 09, 2008 16:10:38

Lol aww :P yeah i can but i chose not to :P
+1 raves
Körïnthïän to Pierced... October 09, 2008 16:26:34

I guess it's something to look forward to.
+1 raves
Shane - oldschoolelf October 09, 2008 15:41:50

Answered: Other.
IDK about others but I don't think that. Here's a little saying I got from one my friends.
"When the lord calls on you, don't look so refined. He could've chose the dog next door if he were so inclined."
+3 raves
Modena Bobena's Mommy October 09, 2008 15:28:05

Answered: Other.
I think most all religions are guilty of this one.
+1 raves
dghdfj October 09, 2008 15:26:30

Answered: No.
I don't like the word Christian. Too many people use this word to identify themselves as "good people" working their way to get to heaven. I am a Bible believing person who chooses to live my life for the Glory of God and not for myself. It doesnt' matter what I believe about you, what does God know about you? I don't think I am better than you. Just a sinner, saved by Grace!!! Will you choose to stay just a sinner? Jesus Christ came into the world, not to condemn the world but that through Him, we may be saved.
+4 raves
ICVelX October 09, 2008 15:19:16

Answered: Yes.
Most Christians won't say out-loud that they are better than non-christians.. but they are certainly thinking it. They wouldn't think non-Christians are going to hell and Christians are going to heaven if they thought of them equally. I was raised catholic and went to catholic school, and even-though they always told me to treat everybody the same, there was always notion that all non-christians were wrong and we had to "help" them find the right way.... or something of the sort.

....I won't even get started on religious freaks who use God as an excuse for everything they do (not necessarily good thing), and as an excuse of their intolerance etc...
+2 raves
Tonio31~E Pluribus Unum~ October 09, 2008 15:19:03

Answered: Yes.
There's this small sense of smugness that get implanted to most Christians
+3 raves
BronxBob October 09, 2008 15:17:45

Answered: No.
Some of us who call ourselves Christian believe that anyone who seeks to live as Jesus did (loving others, trusting in the basic justice of the universe and living in harmony with it) -- whether they know they are doing so or not, whether or not they proclaim Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior -- is "justified" and "sanctified." Atheists, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Pagans may be more "Christian" than I am depending on how they live their lives. I try to get beyond the word symbols Chrisitanity to the meaning of Jesus' life and death and teaching.
greenwo... to BronxBob October 09, 2008 18:41:44

(BB) I like what you said and agree 100%. What I disagree with Christians about is that they try to convert you -- not because you express interest, but even after you tell them you aren't interested and then you have to get rude to get them to stop. This tells me that they think they are the only ones who know the truth and that the rest of us are doomed to hell. Sometimes you can't just walk away because of circumstances. I know they mean well, but they would do better to just plant a seed than to dig up the whole damn garden and run off someone who might have listened.
+4 raves
Michael October 09, 2008 15:16:40 (edited)

Answered: Other.
I think a vast majority of people from ANY religion think they are better than others. They hide behind their mask and hope that one day things will be okay, but there are always the lesser of the group who are truthful and have meaning in what they do.
+7 raves
mavericky ~ In Godot We Trust October 09, 2008 15:15:45

Answered: Yes.
Some do not... but, many of them do. If you "knew" all of the secrets of the universe, wouldn't you think other people were idiots?
+1 raves
froggi ... to maveric... October 10, 2008 00:57:46

i dont no all the secrets of the universe and im a christian. do the other christians? if so why dont i?
+1 raves
maveric... to froggi ... October 10, 2008 04:38:04

Shame on you! You obviously haven't been paying attention. :-)
+1 raves
froggi ... to maveric... October 12, 2008 23:55:21

my god!! your rite. You were rite to shame me. lol
+4 raves
HairlessKat the Gnostic October 09, 2008 15:10:03 (edited)

Answered: No.
What Iv heard from most religieoso christians is "Not better,, just 'saved'"
+1 raves
PigsOnSoma to Hairles... October 09, 2008 16:59:32

lol