Religion And Prejudice

Research on the relation between religion and prejudice is well summarized by Gordon Allport: “The role of religion is paradoxical. It makes prejudice and it unmakes prejudice.” In your opinion, do you agree, and, if so, why might this be true? If you do not agree, explain your reasoning.

Good morning class and Instructor Louis,

After some thought about it, I would have to say that I agree with it because of the different ways as well as the different teachings the churches have.  There are churches out there that will use the same Bible, but yet they will teach completely different things as well as have different meanings of certain passages or so.  This could mean that despite using the same Bible in say two different religions, a particular passage in the Bible may have two different meanings or translations.  No two passages are translated the same.  I can speak from experience, that I will could read something and then my husband reads it and we can both have different meanings from it.

Thank you and have a good day.

Maria

Ashley Rowell

Class and professor,

Honestly, this is a hard question to answer. I can see both perspectives of this statement. However, this is how I see it; religion and having a relationship with Christ are two separate things. You can be a Christian just by name, or, you can be a Christian by the way you speak, behave and the way you spend your time… even when no one is looking. On the topic of prejudice, Im going to have to say I agree with it. While in some cases, religion can essentially “aid” in helping someone to better themselves and their lives as a whole, I have also seen it where the individual practically puts his/herself on a pedestal because they believe they know everything.

Now, I can also see it from a different angle as well. I work in a Christian mission, as I have mentioned before. Staff has to be Christian, but the residents do not. Sometimes, I feel as though some of them are waiting for us to “mess up” and then tell us we are not true Christians. Its almost as if the word “Christian” is associated with the word “perfect” which is most certainly not reality. I think prejudice can be pretty much anywhere… I think we just have to look at the persons heart instead.