Religion and prejudice teachings

CHRISTIANITY:

Men and women are all one in Jesus

therefore Christians would see all genders as equal as this is following Jesus' example

This is why people become prejudiced:

• Bad Experiences: Based on bad experiences or news
• Ignorance: Lack of education resulting in prejudice
• Scapegoating: Blaming a certain group of people for problems
• Stereotyping: Thinking something about everyone in a group
• Media: widely used and can show biased results as the norm
• Peer Pressure: Influences by friends or others
• Upbringing: Parents' views can be passed onto their children

Positive discrimination:

• Treating people favourably becuase they have been discriminated against in the past/ have a high chance of getting discriminated against
• Eg- disabled people can sit at the front of the cinema or go straight to the front of the line at theme park rides
• This is good as it helps the person and can help them feel better about their situation

CHRISTIANITY:

In Christianity there is no higher race/religion/gender etc.

therefore if no gender/race/religion is viewed as superior in Christianity then no Christian can see any as inferior and therefore can not discriminate

CHRISTIANITY:

everyone is welcome to become a Christian

therefore Christians should treat all people equally as they are all accepted by God

CHRISTIANITY:

Jesus accepts everyone in the Bible

therefore Christians would accept everyone aswell because they are following Jesus' example

CHRISTIANITY:

the story of the Good Samaritan in Christianity teaches that Christians should help everyone regardless of gender/race/religion etc.

therefore this tells Christians that everyone deserves the same treatment regardless of differences

tolerance:

accepting all people and valuing their contribution to life and society

respecting their right to think what they want and express their opinion

Justice:

bringing about what is right and fair according to the law

Harmony:

living at peace with others

Value of the individual:

all humans are equal and unique and made in God's image

all humans should have basic human rights and freedom

Prejudice:

thinking badly of someone because of the group they belong to

stereotyping:

having an over simplified mental image of people and applying it to everyone in a group

Discrimination:

actions as a result of prejudice

Scapegoating:

blaming certain groups for problems in society

Types or prejudice:

Racism - the belief that the colour of a person's skin determines their ability

Sexism - treating people unfavourably because of their gender

Ageism - this means to discriminate against someone based on their age

everyone is entitled to:

• Freedom from slavery
• Freedom from torture
• Right to an education
• Freedom to express yourself and be listened to

CHRISTIANITY:

Churches in Great Britain work together for unity and pray together no matter what denominations (Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Quakers etc.)

They fight prejudice by encouraging Christians to meet together even if they come from different traditions.

Martin Luther King spoke out against racism in America.

was a pator of a Baptist Church

He was the leading figure in the Bus Boycott movement which lead to the city of Montgomery lifting the law on bus segregation.

Used peaceful protests, no violence.

CHRISTIANITY:

All are created in the image of God

therefore Christians would not be prejudice or discriminative because they would not want to be punished by God  

CHRISTIANITY:

Jesus had female friends, for example Mary Magdalene

therefore Christians would not be sexist as this would not be following Jesus' example

CHRISTIANITY:

Jesus' disciples were all men

therefore some Christians may be sexist towards women as they believe that Jesus viewed them as less important

CHRISTIANITY:

in Genesis, Eve was created from Adam's rib

this suggests to Christians that men have a higher status than women and therefore discrimination against women is permitted

CHRISTIANITY:

Catholics believe that women should be kept silent in church and not have high positions such as Bishop

therefore Catholics may be discriminative towards women because this is what the Church hierarchy promotes

CHRISTIANITY:

God created men and women in his own image

therefore all Christians agree that discrimination goes against God's design and therefore all men and women are of equal value

CHRISTIANITY:

Jesus healed the sick and disabled and spent time with them

therefore Christians would believe that the sick and disabled do not deserve discrimination because Jesus believed that they did not deserve to experience discrimination

CHRISTIANITY:

It wasnt until 2005 that Anglicans elected their first black Archbishop

therefore this shows how discrimination is still alive in the Church

CHRISTIANITY:

some Protestant and Anglican denominations do allow female priests

therefore this demonstrates to Christians that they should not be sexist because women can hold God's power

CHRISTIANITY:

Do to others as you would want others to do to you

therefore Christians would not discriminate because they would not want to be discriminated against themselves

ISLAM:

Difference was Allah's design

therefore for Muslims persecution is unjustified and goes against Allah's design

ISLAM:

Allah loves the fair minded

therefore Muslims would not discriminate because they would not want to displease Allah  

ISLAM:

the five pillars of Islam applies to everyone

therefore Muslims would not be prejudiced because the rules of their religion is not selective

ISLAM:

Muhammed allowed a black African man to do the call to prayer

therefore Muslims would not be racist because their role model set an example of not being racist.

ISLAM:

the Muslim declaration of human rights states all people are equal

therefore Muslims would not discriminate against anyone because this would oppose rules/guidelines of their religion

ISLAM:

on Hajj (pilgrimage) everyone wears white regardless of age, gender and race to symbolise purity

therefore Muslims would not discriminate against race or gender or religion because on an important religious journey they are all seen as equal

BUDDHISM:

the Buddha rejected his wealth and the caste system which divided people.

therefore Buddhists would view everyone as equal because Budda did on his way to enlightenment

BUDDHISM:

Buddha taught that everyone has 'Buddha-nature' and has the potential to reach enlightenment, regardless of background

therefore Buddhists would not think any less of any particular group of people because they have the same capability of becoming enlightened and same Buddha-nature as themselves

BUDDHISM:

the Buddhist aspects of Right Action, Right Speech and Loving-Kindness require Buddhists to treat people equally, avoid prejudiced talk and show tolerance and consideration

therefore Buddhists would not be prejudiced or discriminative because they want to achieve all of these aspects

BUDDHISM:

despite social conditions at the time, Buddha ordained women

therefore Buddhists would not be sexist because they are following the exmaple of Buddha

BUDDHISM:

the Dalai Lama believes we need to increase mutual understanding and respect; we should not discriminate because of background culture or beliefs

therefore Buddhists would show tolerance of every group in order to follow the teachings of the Dalai Lama

BUDDHISM:

Dalai Lama - 'if we are full of good will, our own mind, our own heart, is enough'.

therefore Buddhists would show tolerance and compassion because of the benefit it would bring themselves

BUDDHISM:

Dalai Lama - 'if we are full of good will, our own mind, our own heart, is enough'.

therefore Buddhists would show tolerance and compassion because of the benefit it would bring themselves

ISLAM:

Allah does not look on your outward appearance but on your good deeds

therefore Muslims will be kind towards all people so that they will be looked upon favourably by Allah

JUDAISM:

And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt

therefore Jews will not be discriminative because of their past experiences of discrimination

ISLAM:

Muslims believe that their differences show the wonderful variety of Allah's creation

therefore they would show compassion and understanding towards all groups of people because they would not want to disrespect Allah's own creation

ISLAM:

women can't become an imam and most don't pray with the men at the mosque

therefore some Muslims may be sexist becuase of the example they have been set in their religion

BUDDHISM:

All members of the sangha (community) are equal

therefore Buddhists would see everyone as equal because of the way that they live in their communities

HINDUISM:

a Hindu's duty is to regard everyone with respect because they have been created by God

therefore Hindus will be tolerant and respectful of all groups as they would not want to be seen as disrespecting God's creation

HINDUISM:

Hinduism has many paths to God

therefore Hindus would be tolerant of other peoples' religions as they understand that there is more than one way to reach God

ISLAM:

Muhammed preached against slavery and that tribe, race, colour and traditions didn't excuse mistreatment

therefore Muslims would be tolerant because they want to follow the example of Muhammed

JUDAISM:

Prophets Amos and Isaiah taught that God was more pleased with social justice than religious ceremonies

therefore Jews will strive for social justice in order to please God and be rewarded in the afterlife

JUDAISM:

Johah - Prophet whose narrow-minded prejudice against people of Ninevah was punished

therefore Jews will want to avoid discrimination in order to avoid punishment

JUDAISM:

Accepts converts from other religions

this teaches Jews to be tolerant of other religions

JUDAISM:

Orthodox Jews - women can't to sit with men in the synaguogue, handle Torah scrolls or become rabbies.

therefore Jews may be of the opinion that men are superior to women because of the hierarchy within the synagogue

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BUDDHISM:

The things which divide and separate people - race, religion, gender, social position ... are all illusory

therefore Buddhists would want to disregard these separations so as to not be disillusioned

SIKHISM:

All men and women are equal and children of God their creator. God has no colour or form so it's wrong to discriminate on grounds of race/religion/gender.

therefore Sikhs would not be racist/sexist etc. because these things have no relevance to God

SIKHISM:

In the gurdwara everyone sits on floor to show they're all equal and women take full part in worship

therefore Sikhs would not be sexist because men and women are viewed as equal whilst in a place of worship

SIKHISM:

at the gurdwara vegetarian food is served so that no one feels excluded

therefore Sikhs would try in other parts of their lives to make sure no one feels excluded to uphold the traditions in their religion 

CHRISTIANITY:

True Christian worship includes the love of God and the love of neighhbour. The two must go together or your Christianity is false.

therefore Christians would try and be loving and kind towards everyone so that their religion was genuine

CHRISTIANITY:

Our love for God is tested and proved by our love for our neighbour

therefore Christians will be loving towards all of their 'neighbours' in order to prove their love of God

BUDDHISM:

Unlike other faiths, Buddhism does not call homosexuality a sin. Although some Buddhist groups see heterosexual marriage for people as the norm, most Buddhists make no distinction between homosexual and heterosexual partnerships and the third precept of avoiding sexual misconduct applies to both.