Tonight we are be looking at the who subject of prejudice
It's big and complicated
So in doing this we will probably find that touch on many different subjects
To get us thinking about this, I'd like to spend sometime time thinking about specific
groups of people that get some stick
[Stick the pictures up]
On the wall you will see I have stuck up the outline of somebody
Each of these bits of paper represents a group of people within our
People with learning problems
What I want you to do is to:
Write down some of the things that people say about them or the attitudes that people
Before we do that - I want us to write down what we hear
I know that may not be what we personally believe
There are lots of thoughts there
To help us think about what prejudice is, I thought it would be good see what the
Heinemann: "1. An opinion formed without reason, knowledge or
experience: 'though he has never met one, he has a prejudice against
Oxford: "Preconceived opinion, bias; injury that results or may result from some
action or judgement; without ~, without detriment to existing right or claim. ~ v.t.
Impair the validity of (right, claim, etc.) ."
Now if that is what prejudice is, then I think if we were honest most of us are guilty
But I suspect that none of us would want to be called prejudice
I know at times I have attitudes about
The middle bit
Do you think there is some truth in any of these attitudes?
But how do you know?
Where do you think these attitudes come from?
Do you know people who have these attitudes?
Do you think your attitude would change if you got to know some of the people in these
In which direction?
What if a criminal came to live next door to you?
Do you think these attitudes effect the way we live or lives?
The Bible bit
Luke 10:25-37 P1022 The story of the Good Samaritan / love your neighbour as yourself
[Luke 6:27 P1013 "But I say to you who are listening love your enemies. Do good to
those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who are cruel to
Luke 6:37 P1013 "Don't Judge other people, and you will not be judged. Don't accuse
others of being guilty, and you will not be accused of being guilty. Forgive, and you will
be forgiven ."
James 2:1-7 P1295 " never think some people are more important than
James 3:1-6 P1297 about the tongue
Matthew 5:43 Love all people "..love your enemies "
Now as far as I can tell
The Bible is quite clear on what our attitudes should be towards other people
The Good Samaritan
Love the person but not necessarily what they do
In the weeks ahead we may look at some of the specific subjects we have touched on