Religion and Prejudice

1. Religion and Prejudice • Key Notes • Definitions • Topics • Examples • Exam Questions • Handout

2. Religion and Prejudice Specification 2014: Within this topic candidates should be familiar with the key teachings from the religion(s) studied and should be aware of how religious leaders and other faith members have interpreted these teachings and applied them to life in society today. 1types of prejudice, including religion, race, colour, gender, age, disability, class, lifestyle, looks; 2the causes and origins of prejudice, including ignorance, stereotyping, scapegoating, influence of parents or media, victims of prejudice experience;

3. Specification 3 concepts of tolerance, justice, harmony and the value of the individual 4 religious attitudes to prejudice and discrimination; 5 effects of prejudice and discrimination (including the idea of positive discrimination); 6 religious responses to prejudice and discrimination by individuals, groups, society and the law; 7 religious believers who have fought against prejudice, e.g. Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Desmond Tutu.

4. Keywords • 1 – Prejudice – pre-judgement without sufficient reason. Usually negative • 2 – Discrimination – Acting on prejudice • 3 – Positive Discrimination – Treat someone more favourably because of race, sex etc.

5. Keywords • 4 – Stereotyping – Prejudice/belief that a group of people share similar characteristics • 5 – Patriotism – Severe form is belief that people from your country are superior • 6 – Equality – All humans have the same value and worth and deserve the same rights and opportunities • 7 – Tolerance – Open-minded and accept and respect other people despite differences

6. Keywords • 8 – Justice – Everything being fair and equal • 9 – Harmony – to live peacefully in a community (group who live together or share a defining belief) • 10 – Value of the Individual – All people are important and of worth • Sample Exam Question – Using examples explain the difference between prejudice and discrimination? (3 marks)

7. Types of Discrimination • Types of Prejudice: • Prejudice and discrimination can exist in many ways. It can be through excluding someone from a group or activity, an attitude within an organisation or institution, employment, use of offensive language, general social attitude towards somebody.

8. Types of Discrimination • 4 – Types of Discrimination – racism (slavery), sexism (no female priests), ageism (employing elderly), religious discrimination (islamophobia), disability discrimination (poor access), discrimination based on lifestyle or looks including homophobia (gay marriage) – Can you think of any other examples?

9. Types - Ageism • Can apply to anyone of any age group. It is only seen as discrimination if there is not a good reason. For example, young people not getting the vote or the elderly driving limits are not seen as discriminatory. • Ageism at work is covered by the ‘Age Discrimination Act 2007’, which forbids discrimination of employment based on grounds of age. • For example, you cannot deny someone a job because their age profile does not fit in with your company image.

10. Types - Sexism • Some are still many examples of discrimination based on gender in society. Certain stereotypes are still held and certain jobs are seen as gender specific, despite any link between gender and ability to do the job. • Another arguable example is the still existent pay gap between men and women in work. • Certain religions are seen as being sexist. Some people feel that having different roles does not mean they are not viewed equally. • Some examples are; women priest are not allowed in the Roman Catholic Church, Imams must be male, women sit separately to men in Orthodox Judaism, women are not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia on religious grounds.

11. Types – Disability • The Paralympics have done a lot to combat disability prejudice in recent years. Disability discrimination can be based on mental or physical disabilities. These may include negative attitudes or stereotypical portrayals in TV and film.

12. Types – Looks and Lifestyle • Based on how people look or how they choose to live. • In 2007 Sophie Lancaster was killed for being dressed as a ‘goth’. Attitudes based on appearance are impacted by first impressions and certain stereotypical views are often formed. • Lifestyle includes homophobia, with current issues including the legalisation of gay marriage. Some religions would argue that this is not prejudice as their sufficient reason is belief and scriptural teaching. Most religions that are against homosexuality are against homosexual acts rather than homosexual people. Homophobic language is still something that often isn’t treated as seriously as it should be.

13. Questions • Should certain employers be allowed to pick people who look a certain way?

14. Religious Discrimination • Based on religious belief. • Not so common in the UK as we are very multicultural compared to most countries. Examples in the modern day often revolve around appearance. • This can be seen with the Sikh turbans and five ks and Muslim attire including the niqab or burka. • There are also some negative views of Islam in the media and in political groups such as the EDL. This is called Islamophobia.

15. Question • Should the burka be banned? • Info – Hijab – Head Scarf • Niqab – Head veil • Burka – Full head veil and body covering

16. Types - Racism • Based on ethnicity. • Can include attitudes, language or not including individuals because of ethnicity. • Historical examples include the holocaust and black slavery and modern examples can be seen in racism in football and attitudes toward Eastern Europeans entering the UK in recent years.

17. Types - Positive Discrimination • This is widely viewed as on the rise in the last few years due to a greater awareness of prejudice. • An example is, with some jobs, you are guaranteed an interview if you fit certain criteria of a minority such as having a disability (GIS). • Some people feel this is a positive step on the road to full equality and combatting prejudice in society but others feel that the majority can now become a victim of discrimination themselves.

18. Question • Is positive discrimination a good thing?

19. Sample Exam Questions – 1 – Explain religious attitudes towards the role of women. (5 marks) • ‘Positive Discrimination is a good thing.’ What do you think? Explain your opinion. (3 marks)

20. 2 - Causes of Prejudice and Discrimination • What are the origins or causes of prejudice and discrimination? • Can you think of any reasons why prejudice exists? Brainstorm • NOTE – A popular exam question

21. Ignorance • Ignorance – Lack of education or understanding about a culture or lifestyle leads to intolerant assumptions forming without any real thought or evidence egrastafarians are ‘druggies’

22. Stereotyping • Attributing blame to a certain group with shared characteristic eg Eastern Europeans are coming here just to claim benefits. Stereotyping stems from evolutionary need to categorise things so we can react quickly. If we get bitten by a snake once, we then naturally stereotype all snakes as dangerous. We can use are reason to overcome this.

23. Scapegoating • Similar to stereotyping but it is blaming a group for a problem. May be caused by tension in a local community combined with ignorance.

24. Upbringing • Again evolutionarily necessary to follow your parents and adopt their views in early childhood. Thus prejudiced attitudes can be passed on. Education can break this cycle.

25. Media • Stereotypes of groups shown on TV/film or through bias reporting in the media. For example, saying ‘The British man was attacked by the Muslim’ suggests the latter is not the same as the former.

26. Bad Experience • Having a negative experience with one person can lead to prejudice against other members of that culture etc.

27. Patriotism • ‘Blurring the lines’ between being proud to be a certain nationality and acting negatively towards people not perceived as being part of this. Xenophobia is seeing those outside of this in a negative light.

28. All of this can relate back to fear. • Sample Exam Questions – ‘You need to change the way people think to prevent discrimination.’ What do you think? Explain your opinion. (3 marks) • ‘Ignorance is the greatest cause of prejudice.’ (6 marker)

29. 5 - Effects of Discrimination • What impact do you think different types of prejudice and discrimination can have? Consider individuals, groups, communities (local national and international).

30. Effects of Discrimination • Feeling afraid or excluded. • Verbal or physical violence. • Bullying at school. • Depression, anxiety. • Segregation of communities. • Rise in political parties based on prejudice eg EDL/BNP. Increased international political relationships. Employment and earning potential.

31. 6 - Discrimination and the Law • Should an individual be allowed to say what they want if it is not directly to someone (deny the holocaust)? Where is the line between right to free speech and right to not be offended?

32. Laws • Attitudes and views cannot be policed but discrimination (acting on them) can be dealt with by law. • 1976 Race Relations Act – Illegal to discriminate based on race or nationality. Part of this is now promoting harmony and tolerance through actions in public sector. • 1975 – Equal Pay Act – men and women. Remember, through suffragettes, women only got the vote in 1918. • 1995 – Disability Discrimination Act; 2007 Sexual Orientation Regulation; 2014 legalisation of gay marriage.

33. Question • Reflection – Men and women tennis players should get equal pay at Wimbledon…

34. 4 - Responding to and Combatting Prejudice: • Religions and society can do a lot to combat prejudice and discrimination, it does not all need to be left to the law. It can be about • 1) Helping victims of prejudice and discrimination • 2) Combat attitudes in society • 3) Promoting the rights of a certain group.

35. Society • Society – Promoting respect, tolerance and understanding in schools in a variety of subjects helps to combat embedded ignorance. • Can include; RE/Citizenship/History. Allowing schools where all students can mix together causes barriers of fear to be broken down. Workplaces and schools having a zero tolerance policy to matters of discrimination.

36. Religion • Religion – School assemblies or classes to help inform people about their religious beliefs. • Listening or providing support to victims through outreach work. Pray or offer spiritual guidance.

37. Organisations Tackling Discrimination: • To be able to talk about groups or charities that work to tackle discrimination is important, especially explaining practical and current campaigns.

38. Organisations Tackling Discrimination: • FARE – Football Against Racism in Europe. Involves campaigns that are aiming to change attitudes and actions in football and include the ‘kickitout’ campaign and the ‘show racism the red card’ campaign.

39. Organisations Tackling Discrimination: • Age Concern – (formerly help the aged). Biggest charity working with and for older people and providing local and national campaigns to influence public attitudes and to provide practical support for the elderly.

40. Sample Exam Questions – • Explain the different ways that victims or prejudice can be helped. (5 marks). • ‘The greatest responsibility for combatting prejudice and discrimination is with schools.’ (6 marker)

41. 4 - Religious Responses to Racism and Prejudice: • Buddhism – Discrimination leads to suffering. Two of the three poisons of life are ignorance and hatred. Compassion (karuna) and kindness (metta) lie at the heart of Buddhism. • The Dalai Lama is an advocate and example of equality and peace. The speak or act unkindly to someone would not be following the noble eightfold path in either right speech or right action. • Finally, Buddhist monks and nuns all dress the same and are all equal. There is no exclusion from who can reach enlightenment.

42. 4 - Religious Responses to Racism and Prejudice: • Christianity – St. Paul said in the New Testament “There is neither Jew nor Gentile (non-Jew), slave or free man, male or female. We are all equal in Christ.” • Equality and love are major parts of the teaching of Jesus. Jesus’ Golden Rule is treat others as you would like to be treated, which would guard against discrimination. • Many of his teachings focus on not pre-judging but accepting somebody regardless of who they are. • The parable of the Good Samaritan teaches the importance of helping everyone equally and how stereotypes are unjustified. Jesus said ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’

43. 4 - Religious Responses to Racism and Prejudice: • Islam – In Islam there is a yearly pilgrimage called Hajj (a pillar of Islam). When Malcolm X famously became a Muslim, he said that, whilst on Hajj, he saw true equality for the first time. Gender, skin colour, age, lifestyle were all irrelevant as al were equal in the eyes of Allah.

44. 4 - Religious Responses to Racism and Prejudice: • Contrarily – You can argue that certain teachings in many religions do not help combat prejudice. For example, many Christians, based on Leviticus and the letters of St. Paul, see homosexuality as immoral. Although, many Christians would say that it is the sin and not the sinner who should be judged. Also, it can be seen in Genesis that Eve was made from Adam and that she was the one who was tempted by the snake. God also chooses the Israelites as ‘His’ people. • Of course, this all depends on interpretation. In many Muslim countries where the law is Shari’ah or Islamic, homosexuality is illegal. Also, women are often banned from driving or must wear certain clothing to cover themselves.

45. 4 - Religious Responses to Racism and Prejudice: • Buddhism and Christianity on Ageism – specifically on ageism, we can use the quotes:- Buddhist ‘You may carry your mother on one shoulder and your father on the other for a hundred years and still be in debt to them,’ Christian ‘Honour your mother and father.’

46. Sample Exam Questions – • ‘Women priests should be allowed.’ (6 marker) • Explain religious attitudes towards homosexuality. (5 marks)

47. 7 - Fighters against Prejudice: • You need to be able to talk in detail about the work of one individual who helped combat prejudice. Some points for three individuals are given below. You need to add some more depth in revision to these.

48. Martin Luther King Jr. • Fought for black rights and the ending of black segregation and discrimination in the USA in the 1960s. He was also a Christian pastor. Made the famous ‘I have a dream…’ speech outlining how character and not skin colour, were what people should be judged by. He was murdered in 1968 but his impact could be argued to still be relevant today with Barack Obama as the first black US president.

49. Gandhi • Indian lawyer who grew up a Hindu and moved to South Africa. He fought for equal rights for the Indian minority there. In India, he peacefully protested (ahimsa), against British rule and for an end to the caste system. He famously called the ‘untouchables’ or lowest in society harijan or children of God.

50. Archbishop Desmond Tutu • Christian fighting for racial equality in South Africa. Opposed the racist Apartheid regime. Won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. Main argument is that we are all made in the image of God. Still campaigns internationally for equality today.