question about belief and self esteem?

Question

in a earlier post, an answerer stated that persons who rejected their former sinful lives and accepted Christ as their Lord and Saviour had low self esteem

the exact quote is
"people with low self esteem are the ones where religion has a strong hold on... "

I am in no way critisizing this post. I am curious to know the opinions of non-believers in particular. Do you concur with this statement? Do you think that as a non-believer that you have high self esteem? Please explain your answers.
thank you

Answer 1

Oh wow, rammie, no.. I don't believe that at all.
I know people of all kinds of beliefs (and non-beliefs) with very low self-esteem.. I don't believe that has anything to do with it at all.

Answer 2

I do not concur with this statement. However, I understand the perspective from that person.

I think it is a generalization. People of all beliefs, religions, and philosophies have low self-esteem. However, a belief that requires putting a central figure before the self automatically requires the self to take a back seat. That I'm not OK with.

From what I've discussed with Christians, the belief is that the self is secondary to Christ. That an examination of the self is second to the examination of one's belief in Christ. And that if in an examination of the self, one comes into conflict with the word of God, you re-examine until you believe in God's word.

Again, serious issue with that.

If I'm wrong, please correct me, but to me, that is in fact a negation of the self and negating the self often leads to low self esteem.

I have a decent level of self esteem because I fought for it after losing who I was and what I wanted out of life. As I'm not a believer, I didn't find that in Christ, and I don't think I ever could because I cannot put my heart or mind behind various Christian beliefs.

But I do build self esteem from learning more about the world. The more I learn, the more convinced I've made the right decision by becoming agnostic. And that builds my confidence and self image.

Answer 3

Without even an attempt to offend, I do have to say I find some truth in it. Although I know it probably doesn't have any truth to it.

It's not that black and white, of course. Not all believers have low self-esteem, not all non-believers have high self-esteem.

My views are probably a bit prejudice.

But, I think it comes from the word "saved" combined with the many testimonies I've read of believers that were saved from something. I've read one too many stories of people that found Jesus while trying to quit drugs, alcohol or another bad life-style. If a religion works for that, it's great of course. But it also shows that these people obviously lacked a lot of self-esteem.

Answer 4

I can only say I am spiritual but not a member nor a believer in any organized religion...just not for me...I dont believe that any religious practioner is automaticaly suffering from low self esteem....though I do know some that are and use thier religion as a crutch...as I know a few nonbelievers who also suffer from such...of course I also do not think one should ever lump an entire group into a generalization...Some are just more comfortable with being told what to do...clears them of any real thinking and any guilt if group thought is later proven wrong...ie past Southern baptist support of slavery and anti interracial marriage as a biblical truth.

Answer 5

Religious people believe that someone loves them and is watching over them, and that they are children of God. Those facts alone are a boost to self-esteem.

Non-believers may have high self esteem (although most of the ones I know don't), but they must credit that to a separate set of facts since they can't see themselves as either a child of God or special enough to have a God watching over them. Maybe they base their self-esteem on their looks or money or credentials - the physical things?? And the believers base theirs on faith and love and hope - the spiritual things? Can there be two different kinds of self-esteem?

As for religion having a "hold" on people, I think its' the other way around. People find and hold onto religion, but are free to drop it and move on at any time.

Answer 6

I ditto Kallan
religion has nothing to do with it
however
I have noticed that most in the Abrahamic faiths do believe of themself to be sinners and unworthy of things more than other faiths
I did ask a few questions about this once
where religions like Paganism etc will try to see the potential in themself and reach for their goals

however this doesn't mean that every Pagan has a high self esteem or that every Christian doesn't

Answer 7

I don't think that high self-esteem is very important, but...

I do think that religions have evolved to take advantage of the fact that many people have low self-esteem. In other words, not all religious people have low self-esteem (in fact quite obviously many of them have WAY too high a level of self-esteem). But religions offer something special to those who do have low self-esteem, as sort of a lure to join those religions.

What they offer, of course, is a way to feel special without having to accomplish anything. Not only do you get to belong to a group, but you get to believe that a supreme being thinks you're pretty darned special, and all that you have to do is profess belonging to that group. There's no effort or sacrifice involved, and great (imaginary) rewards.

Answer 8

I am a believer and I do not have a high self-esteem. But that's only because I don't have the best life on the block.

Answer 9

I don't have huge amounts of self-esteem. I like myself a lot, I would be my friend, but I'm not in love with myself. I can see my flaws, and I'm working on them. I don't agree with the person you quoted - I don't think that's true across the board.

I don't think that all atheists go around being sinful and hating god, either. I don't. I'm so not sinful, it's kinda a shame, since I have no one to answer to but myself...

Answer 10

Self esteem is vital to us. Low self esteem leads to all sorts of problems including addiction, self abuse, abuse of others, racism etc etc...

I think the quote is wrong. It should be the other way around. People with low self esteem are drawn to religion as a way of coping

Answer 11

you are turning around the statements....

"people with low self esteem are the ones where religion has a strong hold on... "

does not imply that a non-believer has a high self esteem. ( or low or whatever else self esteem )

What is true is that when people are ill in their mind that then they are often extremely occupied with religious things . (but not the opposite)
low selfesteem is an indication for a mental illness and thusalso for an religiously occupied mind.