Don't Christians pick on non-Christians?

[Margot]

(From "Public perceptions of Christianity" --about non-Christians mocking the faith.)

Hey! Don't Christians spend their own share of time mocking the beliefs of non-Christians?
Sure we package it in different ways: showing concern; that little smirk and the nod of the head that we do so "everyone-knows-that-we-know what they-don't-know"; and, (my personal favorite,) "prayer requests "

If we are purely talking actions, aren't we often guilty of acting superior to non-Christians??? That's a form of mocking too. I know I've seen it pop up on these threads from time to time. Is pointing out where they are wrong different from mocking? Better? Worse? Just as bad? Enquiring minds want to know!

[Josh]

Good question.

I certainly don't think pointing out where something is wrong is mocking. It seems that mocking has more to do with the manner in which it is communicated, no?

Still, I must confess, there are some viewpoints I have difficulty respecting and therefor must be on guard against mistreating.

For instance, intellectually my respect level for the LDS faith is super low, but not my respect for individual Mormons. I've often found it difficult to discuss Mormonism, Joseph Smith, and Brigham Young without a smirk.

Yet I've often wondered what kind of a reception a Mormon would get, for instance, on these forums. I would hope they would be welcomed and that the discussion would be factual and not disrespectful and that it would be characterized by real listening and open communication.

At the same time, I don't really hold it against atheists when they take pot-shots at us as Christians. I actually take pride in not being ruffled by it. So, on the other hand, maybe we should all just have thicker skin and be able to take some ribbing from those we disagree with.

Those are my incomplete thoughts.