I view myself as pretty liberal, compassionate and open-minded. Truly the type of person who tries not to judge another. Skin color, sexual identity, age, ethnicity, etc. Really does not matter.
That's how I see myself.
But then there's the reality. The truth behind want I think and what I am. And indeed, I hold some prejudices.
Despite what may be argued, prejudice and stereotype is based in some fact. It's when we assume that each individual that outwardly represents our stereotype is judged on that stereotype; that is when it turns to prejudice.
My prejudices are not meant to be malevolent, with the intent to degrade or harm another person.
For example, when I receive a call from a person who is Indian, I assume that they are going to immediately ask for a bargain and then become irate when they realize there is no haggling over price as if they were buying fruit in the open market.
Or when I speak to someone who is Chinese. Automatically, I believe they are going to go for whatever is cheapest, and though will try to haggle, will eventually give in and accept the given price.
Rationally I understand that not every Indian or Chinese person is going to be like this. However, the reinforcement of stereotype by those who fit the bill has led to the irrational state of prejudice.
In cases of ethnicity or race, I do find myself calling myself to task and attempt to deal with each individual with tolerance and respect.
Yet there is one prejudice I seem to not be able to control.
This prejudice is based on years of interaction, reading and watching. Truly irrational because I do know not everyone fits the stereotype, but somehow rational because I have to be consistently alert to the threat.
This group? Those whom which I judge too quickly and will hold in judgment until they prove otherwise?
Christians.
Now, I'm not talking about your average go to church on Sunday because that's the way I was raised Christian. For that part, it's not even the Catholics - despite the history of atrocities caused by the church.
It's the speaking-in-tongues, glazed over, absolved of responsibility for their own actions, fish on my car Christians.
The real zealots. The ones who want to tell everyone how to live and love. The ones who have their shit all up in politics.
The James Dobson Christians, the George Bush Christians, the Jerry Fallwell/Jesse Helms Christians.
It is their hateful Christianity that creates a stereotype that Christian equals psychotic zealot. It is their politicization of the Bible and the exploitation of passages that leads to the stereotype of crazed piousness.
It is their marching against homosexuals and abortions, instead of helping the needy and actually being Christian, that creates the stereotype of Nazi elite lunatics.
Unfortunately, it is the stereotype that has become so prevalent in many countries today that are eroding the truth of Christianity and leading to a prejudice against the religion in general.
What makes this all laughable is those who cry out that there is bigotry against Christians are the ones who are responsible for creating the stereotype, that lead to the prejudice, that leads to this so-called bigotry.
Maybe, in all forms of prejudice, there is some primal fight or flight sensibility. (Of course these so-called Christians would not recognize primal fear as an evolutionary necessity). Based on my experience with these types of Christians, I know they are out to hurt me. I know this despite the glossy ways they say they are not.
This is sad. There's a new guy at work. I don't know him at all. But on the back of his car he has one of those "Truth" magnets. The symbol of the Fish, eating the evolutionary Darwin fish with feet symbol. Based on this alone, I avoid him. I have deduced through my prejudice that he is among the league of those who would do me harm. I have assumed his opinions of who I am are based on the prejudices created by his religion. That his prejudices are so inflated and irrational he would happily deny me any right to existence and humanity.
But this concept is totally irrational. I have had no interaction with this man.
Tragically, the stereotype of radicalized Christian has become so reinforced that my prejudice has evolved into one of intolerance.
Which makes it even more difficult to be the bigger man. It makes it more difficult to turn the other cheek and love my neighbor. It makes it more difficult to judge not, lest I be judged.
And, per chance, should this man be a true Christian - it makes it more difficult for me to not look over my shoulder at him.
Talking about this does bring some truths to light.
- Prejudice is based on stereotypes.
- Stereotypes have a basis in fact.
- That fact is based on personal experience.
- Prejudice is, therefore, a personal dictate.
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