In a sexist society Jesus treated women with dignity and respect; e.g. The woman at the well; (John 4)
A Christian viewpoint
The Christian church is against prejudice and discrimination in all forms. This is based on the belief that all people are created equally by God and so all people are equal in the sight of God.
From one human being he created all the races on Earth and made them live throughout the whole Earth."
Acts 17:26
There are many rules and laws in the Jewish Testament (Old Testament) that tell Jews how to behave towards others to create a just a harmonious society.
"Do not deprive foreigners and orphans of their right”
Deuteronomy 24:17
This is a very effective quote because both the Jewish and the Christians would relate to this and they would also take it their duty to follow the God and the Holy Bible.
The teachings of Jesus were very shocking in the way that he treated 'outcasts' and 'rejects' of society this is shown in the story of the Good Samaritan where a lawyer asks the question "What must I do to enter the kingdom of heaven?" Jesus then tells the story of the Good Samaritan a race despised by the Jews. The listeners were forced to realise that their neighbours as all their fellow humans.
Samaritans were an immigrant community with their own distinctive faith, and there was great hatred between Jewish and Samaritan communities. They would not even talk to each other. In the famous 'Parable of the Good Samaritan', Jesus makes a Samaritan the hero who stopped to help an injured Jew. This depicts fellowship and that it wouldn’t matter what race or religion you are, but you are one of God’s people. This could be like the Eucharist because in both we are showing that we are all part of Christ and that by helping other people we are together fulfilling what god wanted us to do. Out of all people we would expect the priest to help the hurt Jew, but against all the odds, he didn’t. The hope was then on the lay Jew person to help this person who was distraught and hurt. He just went past, pretending not to see this person. Then who would expect? It was the lonely, poor Samaritan who helped out the poor Jew. This parable teaches us that we should not discriminate against the people who are different from us or the minorities because it is them who we will have to thank one day.
One of the examples of challenge to prejudice in the early church was when Peter had a dream about the Jewish food laws. This was when the disciples were arguing if non-Jews could be followers of the Jew Jesus Christ. The disciples had assumed that because the gentiles (non-Jews) were not following the Jewish food rules they could not be Christians. In his dream Peter realised that this was an unfair prejudice Acts 11:1-10.
The apostle Paul in teaching the early Christians reinforced these views with the words
"There is no longer any distinction between Gentiles and Jews ... Christ is all, Christ is in all.”
Colossians 3:11
Forms of prejudice
A prejudice can be against any group who can be distinguished from another group. The 'common' prejudices are sexism, racism, ageism, sizeism and against the handicapped and disabled.
Christianity teaches that everyone has been created by God and is equal in his sight. “From one human being he created all races on earth and made them live throughout the whole earth” (Acts). Throughout the Bible there are clear teachings about prejudice and discrimination. A good example of this is the Parable of the Good Samaritan, in which Jesus makes clear that everyone in your neighbour and there is no room for prejudice and discrimination. St. Paul also clearly teaches against prejudice and discrimination:
“There is no longer any distinction between Gentiles and Jews ... Christ is all” (Colossians).
Jesus himself sets a good example and treats those who are disabled or of different religious belief well. He does not discriminate.
Christianity teaches that everyone has been created by God and is equal in his sight.
“From one human being he created all races on earth and made them live throughout the whole earth” (Acts).
Throughout the Bible there are clear teachings about prejudice and discrimination. A good example of this is the Parable of the Good Samaritan, in which Jesus makes clear that everyone in your neighbour and there is no room for prejudice and discrimination. St. Paul also clearly teaches against prejudice and discrimination:
“There is no longer any distinction between Gentiles and Jews ... Christ is all” (Colossians).
Jesus himself sets a good example and treats those who are disabled or of different religious belief well. He does not discriminate.
Some people would agree with this statement and argue that children going to a religious school will be encouraged to think that their religion is right and others are wrong. Such children may not meet children of other faiths and not socialise with them. This may lead to ignorance, which in turn can lead to prejudice. Some would argue that discrimination in Northern Ireland might be overcome if Catholic and Protestant children went to the same schools. On the other hand, others would argue that religious schools teach children to be respectful of all religions. Religious schools teach tolerance and help parents bring children up within a moral framework. There are many people in non-religious schools who are prejudiced. In religious schools, children are taught about their own faith, but this does not mean they will be prejudiced against others.
