Are atheists bothered by the idea of being "prideful"?

Question

Arrogance seems to be an insult hurled at you from Christians quite often--but is it really a valid insult to you?

I'm not trying to be a sh**stirrer at all--I just wondered if maybe you think pride is a good thing. If you have made yourself what you are through your own efforts, then wouldn't pride be somewhat of a natural response?

(I wasn't implying that Christians aren't arrogant--just that it seems to be their most often used "insult" for you. And "pride" for a Christian is a KJV term synonymous with arrogance.

Answer 1

I think most people recognize arrogance as a character flaw, whatever their position on religion might be. I also think there is such a thing as being rightfully proud of what one has achieved.

But it can be a close call as to which it is, and it can be hard to discern from either side of the fence. We all have trouble seeing our own flaws, while the flaws of others, especially if they disagree with us, tend to be exaggerated. Add to that how hard it is to tell someones character, or even attitude, from an online posting.

In any case, it's the intent of the insult rather than its content that usually comes through. By the time the conversation gets to insults and name-calling, no one is seriously examining what the opponent is really saying.

Answer 2

Pride in one's own achievements isn't a bad thing. I'm not certain I would see it as bad but pride in something other than an achievement seems a little twisted and misguided to me.

For instance I'm not proud of being an atheist. It's simply how we all start life and is a very small part of who I am. Pride in things people had nothing to do with such as race, ethnicity or nationality is almost comical. A person has more control over the length of their hair than their race or ethnicity and yet we would all find pride in hair length humorous.

Before someone spins out of control over this keep in mind that not being proud of something does not equate to being ashamed of it. It always surprises me how many people make this leap of illogic.

Answer 3

I'll take pride over some believers' hubris anytime :)

> Are atheists bothered by the idea of being "prideful"?

†<

Edit
> And "pride" for a Christian is a KJV term synonymous
> with arrogance.

Pride is arrogance? If so (I doubt it) they should visit a decent dictionary once in a while, unless they value totalitarian newspeak :)
.

Answer 4

Usually the person who is so offended by pride is the person who themselves, is prideful. Just like the person who obsesses about being lied to is often the liar themselves. Just like the atheists argument that the loudest opponents of homosexuality are actually closet gays....

*just a toss out-
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." 1 John 2:16

Answer 5

Maybe I'm not understanding the question, because you are getting a lot of responses like: I'm proud of my accomplishments.

Being proud and being prideful are 2 different things.

I'm proud of the things I've done and of my family, kids etc...

But I'm not so prideful that I can't admit I'm wrong.

I think BOTH Atheist and Christians can fall into the category of being arrogant.

Answer 6

I don't think any atheist can match the self-assuredness of some of the Christians here. Smugness is not to be admired. But if you've worked hard in order to learn something about the kinds of questions asked on here, I don't see why we should not be proud of our achievements along those lines. That kind of pride is fine whatever. And arrogance isn't confined to atheists.

Answer 7

I dont mind being called prideful by devout christians, as I personally know that my atheism does not come from pride. Simply a lack of belief bourne from my life's experience

Many religious people on these boards make the mistake of assuming that, because their religion is a shared experience, our atheism must be too.

I am proud of many things I have achieved in my life. But I am proud because I achieved them. I was not assisted by a higher, invisible power

Answer 8

Firstly, pride is not arrogance.

Secondly, it is not prideful to say, "I don't know". After all, that is what a lack of belief is, the idea that something is speculative rather than believable fact.

Lastly , to be truly Skeptical, one must be humble. The first question a Skeptic asks is, "Why do it believe what I do.".

It is merely an insult to call us arrogant. I forgive you.

Answer 9

Why would pride bother me? You should be full of pride when you do a good job at something, and in who you are as a person.

So yes, pride can be a very good thing.

Christians on the other hand, take it to a level I've never seen in any other persons.

Answer 10

I am proud of my achievements, those of my children, and, at seemingly more and more less frequent intervals, those of my country. Pride is a good thing, a self reward for accomplishment. Boastful pride is not so good. This latter is what Xians, and others, should avoid. Xians, however, seek to demean those of other beliefs who happen to have the occasional twinge of pride. Of course, they completely ignore pride of any magnitude in their own circles. They ignore logs in their own eyes.