Describe Christian Teachings On Prejudice and Discrimination

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Describe Christian teachings on prejudice and discrimination.

     “And now we will make human beings; they will resemble us and be like us,” Genesis 1:26. Christians believe that all people are made in the image of God; therefore they all have God given dignity. Their lives are sacred and there value is inherent. Therefore, the duty of all Christians is to recognise and work towards the recognition of that dignity for all people.

     All Christians would say they are opposed to prejudice and discrimination in all its forms. The Church of Scotland says “Christians must stand with the oppressed and confront the oppressor,” which supports the bible teaching, “Love your neighbour as you love yourself,” as it says in James 2:8. The Methodist church said, “Discrimination contradicts the gospel.” Some Christians believe that discrimination and prejudice are insults to God, as “Christ is all, Christ is in all,” Colossians 3:5. They believe that God doesn’t even see race, let alone have “favourites” so Christians should never practise favouritism. This supports the biblical text from James 2:1 “Never treat people in different ways according to their appearance.” James was particularly talking about treating people differently due to their wealth and their social standing. He said that Christians were never to “dishonour the poor,” which could be relevant to many moral issues today such as the exploitation of poor children in sweatshops, or discrimination against poor countries in trade practises that are unfair towards the poorer countries.

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     “Do not deprive foreigners and orphans of their rights,” Deuteronomy 24:17. This passage is particularly talking about “gleaning” which is an old Jewish tradition where farmers would leave any crops that were left behind after the harvest for the widows, orphans and foreigners. Christians believe that it gives people who are poor and more unfortunate the dignity of work, fairness and justice. They don’t necessarily need handouts; they need a fair opportunity given to them. Pope John Paul II said “We must hold strongly to convictions about the dignity of human life and the unity of the human ...

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