Do Christians Think They're Better Than Atheists?

Pic: Gabriel S. Delgado C. from Puerto Ordaz

Christians are often seen to be exhibiting an air of superiority. Usually this involves their preachy, holier than thou attitude to social interactions, but there are several psychological and philosophical reasons too. I sometimes wonder if they'd be secretly disappointed if everyone on Earth became a Christian and got into heaven. Who would they be superior to then? Six arguments are presented below for why Christians might think they're better than atheists. Following that, a number of psychological studies are cited that conclusively answer the question.

1. Christians get to go to heaven, but atheists don't. If the most perfect being in the universe thinks some people deserve paradise while others deserve torture, what does this tell us? That we're all equal, or that some people deserve more than others? Surely then, Christians believe that God has deemed them to be better.

2. Nearly every Christian I've met has tried to convert me to their faith. If they want me to be more like them, surely they think that becoming a Christian would improve me. If that's accurate, then they must think they're currently better.

3. Christians believe that Jesus was an ideal, perfect, model human. He was supposedly a god within the form of a man. So if Christians model their life upon him, they must believe they are closer to that perfection than atheists.

4. Christians believe that morality and love are perfect human attributes that come from God. By possessing these attributes, we supposedly accept a part of God into ourselves. However, by not loving God or following his commandments, how can an atheist hope to possess these attributes to the level of a Christian? Christians must believe they're more righteous and loving than atheists.

5. People often determine their strengths based on the alliances they keep. If Christians believe they are allied with the most powerful entity in the universe, they must believe they're stronger than atheists. In their eyes, they're better equipped to deal with the travails of life, and better protected by their celestial ally.

6. Christian groups often ask lawmakers to censor explicit words and violent imagery from music, books, movies, and video games. They try to dictate the lives of others by denying them the right to see this material. Clearly many Christians think their opinion is more important than everyone else's.

So, do Christians think they're better than atheists? Well, you actually don't need to take my word for it. A meta-analysis of several social surveys and psychological studies found that religiosity is correlated with self-enhancement and socially desirable responding. Religiosity is also correlated with the better than average effect, as well as socially desirable responding on questions about generosity and other pro-social or moral behaviors.

If Christians do possess an air of superiority (and it appears they do) it wouldn't be anything to be ashamed of. Most people compete for superiority and want to think of themselves as `better than average' or better than people from other social groups. Ultimately, no matter who we are, or what we claim to believe, our human instincts and evolutionary drive to compete shine through.