Jim Guinee wrote:
> But, I have a few disagreements.
>
> I do not see major religions teaching the superiority of
> their constituents in the sense that "We're better than
> you are" as much as teaching the superiority of their
> belief system in a way that might say "We have a better
> way to become better people."
Er, Jim . . .
If I stated that "Science has a better belief system [being
based, as it is, on logic and empirical research] than Christianity" you
would jump all over me for claiming that scientists are superior to
Christians!
Your statement implies that it is somehow less offensive for a
person to claim his or her "belief system" is superior to that of others
than it is for him/her to claim that S/HE is better than others. It
isn't! It's STILL a question of a person deciding (and you admit above
that major religions DO decide that way) that they are superior because
they have superior beliefs!
The basis of a superiority claim is unimportant--whether it is
beliefs, race, or sexual orientation is irrelevant. The key is a feeling
that SOME aspect of one's self or one's group is superior to that of
others who don't share that belief.
> It's not the same thing.
On the contrary, it's EXACTLY the same thing!
> In Christianity there is no superiority of the believer over
> the non-believer, not in the sense of the person's worth as
> an individual. The only biblical basis for "boasting" is in
> being forgiven.
Really?
Then if there really IS no feeling of superiority, justify the
existence of missionaries!
A person who sees him/her-self as not being superior to others
does NOT go into their communities and try to convert them to his/her
belief system in an attempt to "improve" their beliefs. That kind of
behavior is so offensive it justifies Michael Sylvester's tirades
against Eurocentricism--yet it is EXACTLY what both Christian and
Islamic sects have been doing for centuries (and are STILL doing in both
cases).
You can call it what you like--but to claim your beliefs are in
any way superior to those of anyone else makes it impossible to claim
that you don't feel a simultaneous sense of personal superiority (you DO
hold those "superior" beliefs personally, don't you?) since you are
placing your personal values at a higher level than those of others.
Sorry, Jim, but it's going to take a better argument than that
one to "demonstrate" that major religions don't encourage their members
to view themselves as superior. Any further doubts--think CALVINISM, the
religion that was responsible for many American values, including our
attitudes toward welfare and the American work ethic.
Rick
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". . . and the only measure of your worth and your deeds will be the
love you leave behind when you're gone." --Fred Small
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