Pride and Prejudice...When Christians Speak

I find it irritating when an evangelical Christian (EC) speaks about their belief system. Actually it may be when most of them speak about anything they are passionate about (however that is probably a tad judgmental). It isn't the fact that they are speaking their mind. I like when people appropriately say what they are thinking and feeling. It IS the facts that many of them speak of certainties of which they have never thought through and that they believe what they are saying is universal truth. These two attitudes are usually accompanied by anger for anyone who disagrees or argues against the EC's position.


Having been a Christian it is an odd thing, this ignorance and misguided confidence. Jesus himself, the one they are following, warns against this in Luke 18. "To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable..." The parable is of a man who thinks he knows everything and a man who is just glad to be there. Jesus condemns the know-it-all. Another guy, Paul who is credited for writing a large section of the New Testament says in Philippians "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." (Grant it this was said in the context of being nice to other Christians, but I believe the attitude continues to those of us who don't believe in that stuff.)


So let me define what I mean by ignorance. It means lack of knowledge. In this case it is specifically a lack of knowledge due to a refusal to entertain or listen to other data. So a person is NOT ignorant if they are a Christian. In fact I have been around some amazing Christians who can out think me in seconds. The ignorance is when a fundamental belief is held and major life choices are based on that belief however the person has never weighed other information that might influence or change that belief.


The first term that came to mind while I was reflecting on this issue was pride. From Definition.com (which I found very satisfying and articulated what I was thinking): "a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc." The word that stood out was superiority. There is an undercurrent (if not openly admitted and visible current) of superiority when a typical EC speaks about their passion. I don't mind when a person deservedly feels superior. Some people are just better than I am, even at the things I am really good at. But this superior attitude ("I know the TRUTH and you need to believe it like I do.") coupled with the ignorance is just flat out dangerous. Just read some of the EC blogs and articles and it doesn't take long to hear the drumming beat as the ECs prepare for war. War against people like me who don't believe like they do and I don't even want a war, I just want left alone.


Then there is prejudice... to be continued....