I used to think that being judgmental was the sole territory of narrow-minded, self-righteous, religious people. You know the ones I’m talking about. The people that you feel like you can’t be yourself around or be honest with for fear of getting that condescending look or that biting comment.

When my wife became pregnant for the first time, I began to see things differently. All of a sudden I found myself in a social environment I had never been in before, an environment of new and expecting mothers and I began to notice the same looks and the same kinds of comments I had thought were the exclusive prerogative of the religiously self-righteous.

If you are ever in a group like this try opening up a topic like breastfeeding versus formula feeding or natural birth verses epidural and c-section or staying at home with your kid versus daycare – do it and watch the looks and the barbs fly. The same could be true for environmentalists, political aficionados, wine connoisseurs, and foodies.

Maybe being judgmental, comparing others to yourself and finding them wanting, isn’t a religious phenomenon but a human one. Maybe certain environments aren’t necessarily full of judgmental people, but just full of people.