Soft not Hard Superiority

by Tom Wilson.

In the world of religious studies, we sometimes talk about “supercessionism,” that is, the belief that a newer faith supersedes an antecedent one, rendering the older faith obsolete. Christians can hold such an attitude towards Jewish people, Muslims can hold it towards Christians and so on. I find it easier to talk about different understandings of superiority. Superiority can be hardwired into every and any faith position. I follow my faith in the way that seems right to me, living out my beliefs as I believe God wants me to. How can I hold my faith to be true without displaying a “hard superior” attitude? That is, an attitude that says I am right, you are wrong, and for you to be a “proper” person, a “complete” person you must accept my point of view. “Hard superiority” is arrogant and offensive and difficult to live with. Recognising, acknowledging, and experiencing “hard superiority” will help us understand what a problem it is and hopefully begin us walking down the path towards change.

I am not talking about what might be termed “epistemological exclusivism.” That is a technical way of saying if I believe something to be true then I believe something else to not be true. I might believe that one must make a public proclamation of personal faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour. Or I might believe that all religions are equally valid paths up the mountain to God. Both of those belief positions are epistemologically exclusive; believing one necessarily excludes the other from being true. It cannot be the case that both every religion is an equally valid path up the mountain to God and at the same time every person must make a public, personal, verbal, proclamation of Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour. I am not adjudicating as to which is right, merely pointing out that the two positions contradict each other. You could hold either of those attitudes in different ways. You might be gracious and loving and compassionate in how you express your view, or you might be arrogant and dismissive of everyone who disagreed with you. Both those views are open to a “hard superior” attitude.

There is of course the possibility of a “soft superiority,” an attitude that says I sincerely believe what I hold to be true. But I am open to being wrong, and I am open to learning from those who see the world differently from me. I see “soft superiority” in Krister Stendahl’s three rules for dialogue. First, when learning about another religion, ask its adherents not its enemies. Second, do not compare your best with their worst. Third, leave room for “holy envy.”

The first rule is arguably a development of Jesus’ teaching in the golden rule, to want for your neighbour what you want for yourself. I get tired of people with little or no knowledge of Christianity trying to explain it to me. The same must be true of people of every faith and belief position. Even if I think I am right and the person I am talking with is wrong, I should still respect them enough to hear them out and try to understand their worldview.

Second, it is very easy to hold a superior attitude that says, “Look at all the good things about my faith and look at all the bad things about yours.” But this is a false comparison. There are plenty of problems with how Christians treat other people and the natural world. It is unfair and immoral to compare the good in my faith with the bad in someone else’s. Any comparison must be honest and balanced.

Third, I may still think my faith is superior but at the same time be envious of certain aspects of another person’s faith. I am convinced that Christianity is true in a way other religions are not, but I envy the discipline of Muslims fasting during Ramadan, the intimacy of relationship with God that many of my Jewish friends have, the exuberance and selflessness of worship I see in some Hindus, the hospitality of a Sikh Gurdwara, and the self-control practised by many Buddhists. I can be envious of what I see without needing to denigrate it or nor without needing to follow that faith.

Christianity is open to a “hard superior” attitude, especially against Judaism. This result in actions and attitudes which are shameful and a blight on Christian history. But Christians can also show “soft superiority,” that is, hold with confidence to the truth of their own beliefs without being afraid of interacting with and learning from people of all faiths and no faith. In our complex and contested world we need a “soft superiority” as we learn to live well together.