I just asked two questions: one directed at atheists, one at Christians. I asked atheists if they feel intellectually superior to theists, and Christians if they feel morally superior to atheists.
I'm a big fan of people speaking up for themselves. I mean, if I want to know what a person thinks, isn't it best to ask that person instead of just assume?
Yet on BOTH questions people chimed in about someone elses's view. A non-atheist answered on the first question that YES, atheists do feel superior, and a non-Christian answered on the second question that YES, Christians do feel superior.
This is one of the thing that really annoys me about R&S. Instead of genuinely seeking the opinions of others we bring all our presuppositions to the table and try to impose them on other people.
I've known Christians who think they are superior, and Christians who don't think that way at all. Same with atheists. You can't make a statement for the entire group. So why do we do it anyway?
2007-11-19 07:58:22 · 21 answers · asked by Rachel loves lasagna 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Why can't we just back off and let people believe what they believe without telling them what they believe?
2007-11-19 07:58:41 · update #1
I was watching ... and thinking the same thing
it is very difficult to get peoples views in here due to the amount of people putting their thoughts across on what other people think ( like they know their thoughts )
another thing I was thinking about was ...
it seems that Atheists do not think themself superior ... but Christians think that they do
and vice versa
I think people do too much thinking and not in the right way
2007-11-19 08:03:04 · answer #1 · answered by ☮ Pangel ☮ 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
It does... though I think I'm qualified to speak from both perspectives as I was a Christian for the better part of 2 decades before becoming an atheist (and although C.L. suggests this isn't possible, I was under the very real and genuine impression that I had an actual relationship with a mystical messiah called Jesus and his father Yahweh... and just because I've later discovered that it was "all in my head" doesn't mean I didn't fully believe it at the time).
By the way, I only answered the question directed towards atheists.
2007-11-19 16:03:25 · answer #2 · answered by ZER0 C00L ••AM••VT•• 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Drives me NUTS!!! It's been times that I have specifically asked people to speak only for themselves and either they'll speak for other people or even speak for ME. Instead being able to point out what makes the paticular person right, they'll ony say how they're "assuming", the other people are wrong. It's insane! On a lighter note, I have got alot of very intelligent, insightful answers. Good luck.
2007-11-19 16:15:22 · answer #3 · answered by Peace! Lotus Flower 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I didn't answer at all, so am I off the hook? LOL. I'm not an atheist, and I'm not your run of the mill christian either. R&S is a release mechanism as well, a lot of people let off much aggression on here. This question deserves attention -- you are holding up a mirror to all users, including me. Thank you for that sweetie.
2007-11-19 16:12:00 · answer #4 · answered by Starjumper the R&S Cow 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
When a non-atheist says yes to the 1st question, or an atheist says yes to the 2nd, how the do you know that's a presupposition? It might be based on years of reasoning and experience of dealing with the other group, and observing their behaviour.
You are arguing against prejudging, but you have prejudged them.
I am sorry that the wrong people answered your question.
2007-11-19 16:09:46 · answer #5 · answered by spamdumpuk2003 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I responded to the atheist question, but not on behalf of atheists. I said that asking if somebody believes that he is intellectually superior is unlikely to result in an honest answer (and is therefore a moot question).
2007-11-19 16:03:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well I for one try to rise above all that and feel both intellectually AND morally superior.
2007-11-19 16:08:20 · answer #7 · answered by STFU Dude 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have a couple of questions.
Were your questions intentionally different?
Intellectual vs. Moral
Which category do you put non-Christian theists into?
2007-11-19 19:46:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We didn't ALL answer that way...
I often answer questions like "who believes in God?" with "90% of the country," just to prove the point that a well-asked question gets the answer you need.
2007-11-19 16:08:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
A lot of Christians feel they can answer for atheists because they used to BE atheists. On the other hand, no atheist can honestly say they used to be Christian. They may have practiced the religion but they never knew Jesus, otherwise they wouldn't be atheists today. So technically, some Christians can answer for both. :)
2007-11-19 16:02:50 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋