Catholic Christianity: Prejudice & Discrimination (AQA GCSE Religious Studies B): Revision Note

Christian teaching against racial prejudice and discrimination

What is prejudice and discrimination?

• Prejudice and discrimination are both related to negative attitudes and behaviours towards individuals or groups based on characteristics, including:

  • Race

  • Gender

  • Religion

  • Disability

• Prejudice involves prejudging or forming an opinion about a person or a group without knowing them

  • This opinion is usually based on stereotypes or generalisations and is often negative

• Prejudice is a mental attitude that involves biased thinking or assumptions about people due to their race, religion or gender, etc.

  • One example is when a person holds a prejudiced belief that someone from a certain religion is untrustworthy or violent, even though they have no personal experience with them

• Discrimination is when people act on their prejudices and treat others unfairly or unjustly based on their differences

  • Discrimination can happen in many areas, including education, employment, housing and social interactions

  • One example is when a person is discriminated against in a job interview because of their religious beliefs, even though they are qualified for the role

What is racial prejudice and discrimination?

• Racial prejudice is when someone judges or forms negative opinions about a person or group based on their race or ethnicity

  • This is often done without knowing the person or group and is based on stereotypes rather than facts

• Racial prejudice usually involves attitudes or beliefs, such as thinking one race is superior or inferior to another

• Racial discrimination is when people act on those prejudiced beliefs by treating someone unfairly or differently because of their race

• Discrimination involves actions, such as:

• Refusing someone a job

• Segregation or exclusion

• Verbal abuse or violence

• Unequal access to education, housing or opportunities

• Prejudice can exist without discrimination, but discrimination almost always comes from prejudice

What does Christianity teach about racial prejudice and discrimination?

• Christianity teaches that racial prejudice and discrimination are wrong 

• They go against the fundamental Christian principles of love, equality and respect for all people

• Christians are encouraged to treat everyone with kindness and fairness, regardless of their differences

• Christians base their beliefs upon the teachings of Jesus, which teach them not to treat people unfairly

• Christianity teaches that all people are equal in the eyes of God

• This means that God does not show favouritism and that all people, regardless of their race 

• Christians believe that all people are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), so they should be treated with dignity and respect

• Jesus taught the Golden Rule

• This means that Christians should treat others as they would want to be treated, showing love, respect and kindness to everyone

• Christianity teaches that even those who treat others unfairly or discriminate against them should be treated with love

• This teaches Christians to rise above hate and respond with kindness rather than prejudice or discrimination

• Many Christian organisations and churches actively work to combat racial discrimination and promote equality

  • For example, churches may run campaigns against racism or sexism and advocate for social justice

  • Many Christian leaders and organisations support the civil rights movement and work to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and equally, regardless of their background

Christian teaching about equality and justice

What does Christianity teach about equality and justice?

• Christianity teaches that all people are equal because they are created by God

  • Everyone has the same value regardless of race, gender, wealth or background, as taught in the Bible

• Christians believe that humans are made in the image of God, which means no one is superior to anyone else, and that discrimination of any kind is morally wrong

• Jesus taught that everyone should be treated with love and respect, shown in his command to “love your neighbour as yourself”

• Christianity teaches that justice means fairness, where people are treated properly, protected from harm and given what they are due, especially the poor and the oppressed

• Jesus consistently supported those who were treated unfairly, such as the poor, women, outcasts and minorities, demonstrating how God sides with those who suffer injustice

• Christians believe justice involves challenging discrimination and inequality

• The Bible teaches that Christians should speak up for those who cannot defend themselves

• Christianity teaches that equality and justice are not just ideas but should be shown through actions

Christian attitudes towards prejudice and discrimination

What are Christian attitudes towards prejudice and discrimination?

• Christianity teaches that all forms of prejudice and discrimination are wrong

• It also teaches that all people are equal in the eyes of God

• Prejudice and discrimination are incompatible with Christian teachings because all people are equally valuable in God’s eyes

• Throughout his life, Jesus reached out to people who were rejected by society

  • He associated with people who were considered outcasts, showing that discrimination has no place in the Christian faith

• Jesus taught that people should love their neighbours (Matthew 22:39)

  • This means treating everyone with respect and kindness, no matter their background, race or religion

• Jesus showed compassion and care for those who were often marginalised or discriminated against in society, such as women, the poor and sinners

  • For example, he spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4), even though Jews and Samaritans typically did not interact

  • The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37) teaches Christians to love and care for others, even if they are from different groups or backgrounds. In the parable, the Samaritan helps a Jew, showing that compassion should not be limited by prejudice

Different perspectives on prejudice and discrimination

What are the different perspectives on prejudice and discrimination?

• The Christian perspective teaches that prejudice and discrimination are wrong

  • Christians believe discrimination goes against Jesus’s command to love your neighbour as yourself

  • Treating people unfairly denies their God-given dignity and contradicts Christian teachings on love, justice and compassion

  • Christianity also teaches that believers have a responsibility to challenge injustice and discrimination by speaking up for the oppressed and acting to bring about fairness in society

• A secular or human rights perspective argues that prejudice and discrimination are wrong because they violate basic human rights

  • These human rights include equality, freedom and fairness, which should apply to all people regardless of belief

  • From this view, laws and governments should protect people from discrimination through equal rights legislation

    • Justice should be enforced through legal systems rather than religious teaching

• Some people hold a cultural or traditional perspective, believing that certain groups should be treated differently because of long-standing traditions or social roles

  • Christians strongly reject this perspective, arguing that tradition can never justify discrimination 

Christianity and the promotion of tolerance and equality

How does Christianity promote tolerance and equality?

• Christianity teaches that all people are equal 

  • This is because of the teachings from the Bible and the example of Jesus

  • Jesus taught tolerance and equality through his command to “love your neighbour as yourself”

  • Jesus’s actions promote tolerance, as he mixed with people who were often rejected by society

• Christianity teaches that justice means fairness, so Christians should challenge unfair treatment, prejudice and discrimination wherever they exist

• Christians believe they have a responsibility to stand up against injustice by supporting equality, by speaking out against racism, sexism and exploitation and by protecting the vulnerable

• The Christian belief in forgiveness and reconciliation encourages tolerance, as believers are taught to overcome hatred, resentment and division 

• Many Christians support human rights and equality laws, believing governments and societies should protect everyone from discrimination and promote equal opportunities

• Christian churches and organisations often promote tolerance through education, charity work, interfaith dialogue and social action, helping to build peaceful and inclusive communities

• Overall, Christianity promotes tolerance and equality by teaching love, justice and respect for all people, seeing these values as essential to living a faithful Christian life