Snap Poll: Do you find that believers, no matter how "nice" or "tolerant", still exude an air of superiority?

Question

And that that is what really gets your back up? If you do feel this way, is it across the board for all religions, or do you feel that some are different?

It's that "I'll pray for you" that gets me too. To the folks I've bugged with this question though, please understand that it isn't baseless. I've been shouted down about how damned I am. I have been told to my face that I am an evil witch simply for respecting the old pagan religions, and all this from people who believe the third world is in the state it is in because God wills it so, and that the first world is rich because it's being rewarded for its faith (That whole "Predestination" BS)

Sorry, don't mean to get hot under the collar, but it really bugs me. As for believers in what? - A deity...

Wow SuziB. That's really blown me away. Thanks for being having the guts to say that.

Answer 1

Being a Christian, if I stand up for something that I think is wrong with what typical Christians say, I get some serious ridicule.
If I say anything about gays: that God would not send them to hell, I have hell to pay.
If I say anything about lying in the grave until the resurrection (which is what the bible and the whole purpose of the Christ resurrecting the believers on the day of judgment is all about) I get ridiculed.
Not all Christians on here are like that, but, I am starting to see what the atheists mean when they say that the Christians do not act very Christ like.
If I had to choose my religion from what I see in R&S---I would be atheist.

Answer 2

Ohhhhh I feel EXACTLY like Suzi B... except for me I am Muslim and its what I see and hear from some Muslims that make me feel that way sometimes!!

I think some people just make religion so hard and I have noticed that a lot of people get more and more critical of others as they get more into the religion (they think they are getting more religious). And when I say they get more critical of others, its those who are following the same religion.

So if they get so critical of their own, they are easily going to do it to others outside their religion.

There are some Islamic forums that I quit going to, or have to take breaks from because of this. For instance, a Muslim will make a post seeking advice and sympathy for something they are struggling with and other members (Muslims) will post fatwas on how what they are doing is a sin, they must repent or be warned the punishment is hell... etc... and most of the times, the original poster already knows what they are writing about is a sin, and just needed some support, words of encouragement, and sympathy to help them. For some of the members everything is always black and white, but we are all human and no matter what religion we follow we all have our different struggles to be better followers.

oops I strayed off topic, sorry!

Answer 3

"Do you find that believers, no matter how "nice" or "tolerant", still exude an air of superiority?"

Hahaha. Ah, the hypocrisy. Oh well. Unlike some people from both sides of the fence, I really DO have respect for others beliefs. It doesn't bother me that Atheists or other religions exist. Whatever floats their boat. I can see things from their point of view.
I believe you are talking about human nature, not some trait that remarkably is only possessed by believers in something.

EDIT: Atheists, go ahead and give me the thumbs down. You're just doing what's expected.

Answer 4

some are different but many of them that mean to be nice and tolarant still find a way to bug me. mostly christians than anything because many of them feel the need to include a "god bless" (not to bad i can live with it), "i'll pray for you" or something else. when you can talk about another persons faith without including your own then you sound more down to earth.

Answer 5

The few humble and beautiful posts I see here are almost always by religious people. Seldom do I see this quality in 'atheists' but I do see a lot of good reasoned posts by atheists.

And then there are the close minded clueless people on both sides.

Answer 6

Absolutely they do!
You know , I used to be a christian, and among other different things, I could not stand the hypocrisy and the air of superiority they showed when faced with non believers.
It is sickening. They think that a God cares just for them and it has a special place for them ,but for the rest of us it has a PIT.
Gimme a break, all hypocrites!

Answer 7

My experience is definately swaying toward yes. At least when ever I am confronted by someone who is determined to convert me to their ways and beliefs. It says to me "My way is better than your way, come follow me." And anyone that I encounter who thinks their way is the only way... is acting superior. No matter how tolerant or nice..
I feel anything that brings a person PEACE OF MIND is probably "right" for that particular person. Even if it is "weird" (different) to me, (from mine).

Answer 8

No... there are some very nice believers on here.... some Buddhists, a few Christians, many of the Pagans...

But the majority of believers certainly appear pretty rigid and mean as they appear in this forum, and it gets me responding in kind, sometimes.

Answer 9

*smile*

There's two answers to that.

The first is, yes there are some believers here who seem to exude an air of superiority even while being nice.

The second is, how much of that do *I* have to take responsibility for, in terms of HOW I listen to/hear things?

The second is really more important to me than the first.

Blessings to all.

Answer 10

I find many atheists and religious sceptics at least as "superior"in their ego-attitudes and dismissive of the long tradition of believing intellectuals, scientists,other thinkers, philanthropists and heroes withoiut much illelectual substance behind their scorn..