The Elitism of Absolutism

Some growing issues I must address:

1) Just recently, whenever I find myself engaged in an intellectual conversation, whether it fall under either of the voluminous categories of philosophy or theology, and unless I know the person is either on or above my level, I can't help but assume a pretentious, regnant position. I take on this elitist attitude and talk down to whoever's with me. This happens often in Bible studies when I interpret the given scripture radically different than anyone else. I see myself as really getting to the core of the passage, while everyone else just gets the gist of it or, sometimes, even misinterprets it. Sometimes I don't realize it's happening until it's too late, other times, when I catch myself, it prevents me from saying a word. I don't want to argue if it's just going to feed my ego or possibly patronize someone, but I do want to share my thoughts with people and receive feedback. It's creating a sort of Catch-22 that needs to stop.

2) Closely related to the first issue, I am struggling with the futility of non-Christian thought, specifically concerning morality and ethics. Is there any worth to it? How am I going to treat my array of non-Christian friends this summer? I fear the same elitist, absolutist condition will haunt me in the inevitable ideological culture clashes between myself and my old friends. I don't want to appear a close-minded, bombastic highbrow to them. I want to embrace my old community with love, concern and appreciation. I am hoping, God willing, to be a light unto them, but I fear this will not happen if I can't get rid of my intellectual pretensions.

I need a remedy for this. I don't know how to prevent myself from feeling like such an intellectual vigilante, but, like I said, it needs to stop.