All Theists and Non-Theists: Do Your Beliefs Make You Superior

[ChristineES]

One thing I have noticed talking to people of various faiths and non-faiths is that there a small number of each group who believe that what they believe makes them superior in some way or another.

For example: Some Theists they are more moral than non-theists just because they believe in God. There are some Atheists who believe they are more intelligent than theists because all of their beliefs. There are many other examples I did not use.

Do you believe that your faith or non-faith makes you better in some way? Or do you believe that no one is superior just because of what they believe or don't believe?

I tend to believe the latter, that no one is better than another person. I believe that Atheists may be moral and that theists may be intelligent (as in the examples).

 

[mr.guy]

I believe my lack of faith makes me 3 pounds lighter.

I'm particularly atheistic after thanksgiving.

 

[Katzpur]

One thing I have noticed talking to people of various faiths and non-faiths is that there a small number of each group who believe that what they believe makes them superior in some way or another.

For example: Some Theists they are more moral than non-theists just because they believe in God. There are some Atheists who believe they are more intelligent than theists because all of their beliefs. There are many other examples I did not use.

Do you believe that your faith or non-faith makes you better in some way? Or do you believe that no one is superior just because of what they believe or don't believe?

I tend to believe the latter, that no one is better than another person. I believe that Atheists may be moral and that theists may be intelligent (as in the examples).

I agree completely.

 

[Fluffy]

I do think that some beliefs are better than others but I don't think that those who believe such beliefs are superior to those who do not nor do I think that these beliefs require either an atheistic or theistic belief system.

I also don't think that the more intelligent or the more moral are superior to the less intelligent and the less moral.

 

[Vasilisa Jade]

I have such difficulty finding solid rock-like beliefs for me, I try not to look down on anyone. I respect people for being so adamant and solid in the path they have chosen, then on the other hand, when they go into the superior kick it shows more as a weakness than as a strength to me.

I think when any faith proclaims they are the one and only way to {whatever} they have already hoisted every member up on a pedestal, and caused rippling hubris to resignate out from the mass of followers. It is not the peoples fault. They are just following through with what they are taught.

Beliefs are just that beliefs/ opinions. Beliefs make no one any more superior than opinions do. Some are just better formed and tested than others, as Fluffy said.

 

[blackout]

There are definately advantages to forming your own beliefs
(instead of "adopting" or "buying into" the beliefs of others).
This, of course, is my own belief...
based on my own personal experience.

Your life is far more completely your own that way,
in that you yourself are artisan and (co)creator
in a deep, rich and meaning-filled way.
The author-ity (authorship) of my life is something
I will not ever hand off to anyone else ever again.
Really, it is the only thing I truly own.
The authorship of my own life story, with/in my own reality.

Every single thing I do actually
is done in active faith of either...
1. a self authored idea of my own
or
2. something that my Reality has "handed me".
(this is the co-creatorship)

So "belief" for me is an active and creative concept really.

Certainly then, my OWN beliefs are superior for me.
(and they could NEVER be anyone else's anyway)

 

[Sunstone]

In general, I don't think your beliefs by themselves make you any better than anyone else. I would make some exceptions to that, though. For some reason that I've never quite figured out, I always feel superior to people who are prejudiced against groups of people based on such things as race, religion, sexual orientation, and so forth.

 

[Yerda]

If there is a correlation between beliefs and 'superiority' it may be a reversal of the relationship in the OP, and infact that strikes me as more likely. Is there any reason to propose a correlation? I've met disturbingly articulate fascists and illiterate liberals, sophisticated theists and primitive atheists (let's face it, I am one!).

EDIT: Even if it could be demonstrated that atheists as a group are more intelligent or moral on average than theists, it would be fallacious to say that I am superior in these respects as a result.

 

[BucephalusBB]

I feel superior over dumb bashing atheists. Other than that, nope..:flirt:

 

[Alex_G]

One thing I have noticed talking to people of various faiths and non-faiths is that there a small number of each group who believe that what they believe makes them superior in some way or another.

For example: Some Theists they are more moral than non-theists just because they believe in God. There are some Atheists who believe they are more intelligent than theists because all of their beliefs. There are many other examples I did not use.

Do you believe that your faith or non-faith makes you better in some way? Or do you believe that no one is superior just because of what they believe or don't believe?

I tend to believe the latter, that no one is better than another person. I believe that Atheists may be moral and that theists may be intelligent (as in the examples).

Agreed. The differences will of course provide individuality between people, but not superiority/inferiority. Other such atributes such as inteligence could be classed in terms of superiority, but this isnt correlated with belief.

Admittedly i do feel my nontheist standpoint to be true, thats why i have it . So in terms of that, the ideas should be open to interpretations of superiority, but not the people themselves.

 

[Somkid]

I think my "religion" for lack of a better term makes its followers more peaceful and tolerant of others I also believe that we may be more "well adjusted" to life in general. I think the reason why is because our belief drives us to seek pure truth for which there must be verifiable evidence.

I'll share this quote with you because it expresses how I feel better than I can express my feelings.

"The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. It should transcend personal God and avoid dogma and theology. Covering both the natural and the spiritual, it should be based on a religious sense arising from the experience of all things natural and spiritual as a meaningful unity. Buddhism answers this description. If there is any religion that could cope with modern scientific needs it would be Buddhism." (Albert Einstein)

 

[daniegrace]

I think my "religion" for lack of a better term makes its followers more peaceful and tolerant of others I also believe that we may be more "well adjusted" to life in general. I think the reason why is because our belief drives us to seek pure truth for which there must be verifiable evidence.

I'll share this quote with you because it expresses how I feel better than I can express my feelings.

"The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. It should transcend personal God and avoid dogma and theology. Covering both the natural and the spiritual, it should be based on a religious sense arising from the experience of all things natural and spiritual as a meaningful unity. Buddhism answers this description. If there is any religion that could cope with modern scientific needs it would be Buddhism." (Albert Einstein)

i agree fully with somkid and einstein......
i dont feel superior to anyone.....sometimes i feel i am just further down the path than others

 

[logician]

i agree fully with somkid and einstein......
i dont feel superior to anyone.....sometimes i feel i am just further down the path than others

The goal is not to feel superiority to others, but to feel comfortable with yourself, not really an easy proposition, for we are all weak in some areas. I have not yet attainted this comfort level, and doubt if I will, but still work on it.

 

[Captain Civic]

If you think you're superior to someone because of your beliefs, perhaps you should start thinking you're superior to those who don't like tomatoes when you do. It's got nothing to do with beliefs; it's got to do with ego and close-mindedness.

 

[Godfather89]

Believing everyone is stuck in believing... We should be trying to search in order to KNOW. Believing is passive, knowing is active...

 

[ChristineES]

Learning is active. We are in a total state of always learning. I learn new things everyday.

 

[Troublemane]

I dont feel superior to others so much as feel surrounded by idiots when i am driving in rush hour traffic. I always am amazed that there arent more accidents on the road the way people drive!

In terms of belief tho, i dont think belief makes anyone lesser or greater, but then again thats just my belief.

 

[Smoke]

Do you believe that your faith or non-faith makes you better in some way? Or do you believe that no one is superior just because of what they believe or don't believe?

I think there are many people whose faith or skepticism makes them better people than they would have been otherwise, and many people whose faith or skepticism makes them worse people than they would have been otherwise. Neither one makes them any better or worse, necessarily, than people who don't share their faith or skepticism.

I tend to believe the latter, that no one is better than another person.

Well, I certainly don't believe that. I'm better than a lot of people, and a lot of people are better than me. The same goes for religions. Some of them are manifestly better or worse than others.

 

[michel]

Do you believe that your faith or non-faith makes you better in some way?

No, not at all.

Or do you believe that no one is superior just because of what they believe or don't believe?

I'm not quite sure I like the use of the word "superior"; I think what determines how "Good we are" is determined by our actions, and our motives.

I tend to believe the latter, that no one is better than another person. I believe that Atheists may be moral and that theists may be intelligent (as in the examples).

The inference in the above is that you seem to be implying that theists are less intelligent than non-theists.......

 

[ChristineES]

The inference in the above is that you seem to be implying that theists are less intelligent than non-theists.......

People do see what they want to see Intelligence has nothing to do with whether you are a theist or atheist- it is caused by how many brain cells you have when you are born.