With reference to anyone of the key people in Acts, explore the challenge of prejudice, sectarianism or racism to the modern world.

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The Acts of the Apostles is the geographical and political story of the development of the Christian Church under the impulse of the Holy Spirit. Although many of us may think that the issues of sectarianism are new, the Acts of the Apostles shows clearly religious intolerance over two thousand years ago. In this respect, it is comparable and informative for moral life in the twenty-first century. One of the most influential characters in Acts, who is closely linked to the issues of sectarianism, is Peter. However, before I look at his role, the word sectarianism has been defined by Joseph Liechty and Cecelia Clegg as,

‘a system of attitudes, actions, beliefs and structures … which arises as a distorted expression of positive, human needs especially for belonging, identity and the free expression of difference … and is expressed in destructive patterns of relating’,

The task of saying what sectarianism is, becomes complex because the system of sectarianism is itself one of extraordinary complexity.  Sectarianism is about what goes on in people’s hearts and minds, and it is about people’s attitudes to one another, about what they do and say and the things they leave undone or unsaid.  In order to see sectarianism, this question has to be asked, ‘Do I recognise these dynamics in any form in my own life’.  It is quite obvious that a better understanding has indeed facilitated movement. When people think of sectarianism, we mostly relate it too its raw or violent expressions in, for example murders and bombings, along with state implication in areas such as policing and the unequal distribution of resources.  It is obvious that these actions are the most potent expressions of the system, but alongside this type of bold action is an array of smaller, perhaps everyday or semi – conscious attitudes, actions and beliefs, which contribute subtly to keeping the sectarianism system in place.

‘Drinking in Roman Catholic bars can seriously damage your health – watch where you drink, because I do’ (A discussion document, cards can be bought on the Shankill road)

Sectarianism always involves religion. The involvement may be an historic one that has long been forgotten, but it is this origin that distinguishes it from purely political discrimination.  It is impossible to argue that Peter was not involved in the issue of sectarianism but what was his exact role? What persecution did he himself suffer, or even worse, what discrimination did he himself perpetrate? And most importantly, what sectarianism did Peter help the Church overcome? Is he an example which we can portray with the aspects of sectarianism in the modern world today?

Peter is an example of somebody we can learn from today, he shows the human abilities that we our self depict, for example we all have beliefs as well as Peter did and in some instances we can act upon these in an unethical way, Peter can be used as an example of someone we can look up to and admire.

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Matthews gospel has already informed us that Peter had been given the,

“Keys to the gates of heaven”

However, it is in Chapter 2 of Acts that the reader sees Peter first use them to open the Gospel to his fellow Jews at Pentecost. In this passage, we see Peter’s first recognition that the Gospel is open, not only to Jews, but to all those who believe, repent and are baptised. In verse 38, this realisation is made apparent to us when he states about the universality of the church:

‘For Gods promise was made ...

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