CR10,
You are changing around what I said.
There seemed to be a clear implication in your posts that you believe there is a correlation between increased observance (e.g., chumros or full time learning) and feeling superior to others.
I said WE shouldn’t feel superior.
I can agree with that statement regarding feelings. It is clear from our tradition that arrogance is a trait that Hashem finds particularly repugnant.
Do you think it is possible, however, for a Jew to uphold something he values when interacting with another Jew who doesn’t uphold it, yet without feeling superior? For example, a child of a non-TV household coming home and asking his parents to buy a TV because his friend gets to watch all of these great shows. What does the parent say? Or getting a meal invitation from someone who does things in the kitchen that you do not think are permissible to eat.
Also, do you think it is possible to have a disagreement on an issue of religious observance without one side feeling like the other is looking down on them (whether or not the other side is)?
According to the Ramban everyone is equal.
I do not see this from what you have quoted. Only Hashem can determine the value of a person.
When Shaul Hamelech went to war with Amalek, he allowed some of the animals, spoils, and the enemy king (Agag) to survive, in violation of the mitzvah to completely eradicate Amalek. Shmuel Hanavi’s rebuke of Shaul Hamelech had an interesting component to it – he accused the king of sinning because he was small in his own eyes. In other words, it seems that Shaul Hamelech believed that since everybody is equal, than who was he to judge what his soldiers did? This was misplaced humility. He wasn’t equal, he was king, and he had a responsibility to judge his soldiers’ behavior, rebuke them, and lift them up. Ultimately his failure to do so damaged the authority of his kingship beyond repair.
(Disclosure: I have not learned this Gemara inside, so others feel free to add/correct) In Maseches Sota, Rava says that someone who is prideful deserves to be excommunicated, and that someone who has no pride also deserves to be banned. Rashi comments that the latter is true because, without any pride, nobody would take him seriously or listen to his rebuke.