dis-crim--i-na-tion
[dih-skrim-uh-ney-shuhn]
1) treatment or or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor or against, a person or thing based on a group, class, or category to which that person belongs rather than individual merit.
2) the power of making fine distinctions; discriminating; judgement
3) something that serves to differentiate
I was talking with a friend the other day about this very subject and I was somewhat on a soapbox about how I had recently been discriminated against and she said, "Before long you're going to be defending Muslims, Buddhist and..." I quickly interrupted her by shaking my head no... and she said, "So it's ok to discriminate against someone for their religious beliefs?" I immediately felt the shame of my own double standard-- I now see that each of us have "opinions" of people based on all sorts of things whether it be race, social status, sexual orientation, and yes even religion...
Why do I have this intolerance for a people based on their religion??? I'm glad you asked... It is in my heart for the same reason it's in yours..(9/11) We all have a mind-set against people because of a deep hurt--a tragedy that we as a nation suffered through... So just like every other human we look for someone to blame--a place to aim our anger and hurt, as a way to overcome our FEARS... So we pass judgement on an entire people...This is how discrimination is born
I have recently found myself developing a new bias--and unfortunately it's the church that has sparked this new prejudice. I have a just experienced a deep hurt (by way of discrimination, judgement, & rejection) and I have found myself aiming my pain directly at the church as a whole... Which makes me just as guilty of discrimination as the next guy.
As I was talking with my friend the other day I quickly found something in my heart that is COMPLETELY unacceptable and I'm so thankful that it was exposed... now I can make the necessary adjustments and change those preconceptions and become a better person. The truth is there are "religious zealots" in EVERY religion and I cannot base my opinion on those who induce harm as opposed to the many more who actually operate in love....I see that now
WE (yes this includes you) reject those that we don't understand or agree with and that is discrimination at it's best--Not to mention it's mean as hell.
Who do you discriminate against?
__Blacks
__Whites
__Hispanics
__LGBT
__HIV/AIDS patients
__Muslims
__Christians
__Other
(check all that apply)
Just Bb
This is true. All discrimination, even my own, is based on pride and insecurity, OR on the need to control others to make yourself feel better (insecurity again). It is possible to totally disagree with someone, think they are absolutely wrong, and love them still.
ReplyDeleteJust because they are different does not mean that I need to punish them by withholding love. It fact, it is love that will draw them back if they have indeed strayed away from what is pure and good.
Now, we never need to lie and say we agree, but a slap from a true friend is a ton better than flattery from a fake. You think? I think our motives, even the hidden ones, can sometimes be felt (not heard) in our words.
In all my conversations with muslims and buddhist and hindus and atheist around the world I've never once told them that everything they believe was right, but never have I tried to sting them with my preaching. It's counter-productive and shuts them down completely, making it where they can't even consider what you are saying.
And ya know what, I can indeed learn from those who at this moment believe different without losing my hold on Jesus Christ and his word. :-)