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Bigotry as practice

firedragon

Veteran Member
Ive been thinking about this topic for about a decade and have been finding bigotry not only prevailing but increasing. Ill give some examples. Mind you, you may consider this anecdotal, no problem.

1. Some Muslims have this idea that all who dont believe in the prophet Muhammed are lacking morals. This seems like an arbitrary idea, and I am yet to see some scholarly exegesis of what ever Islamic text that states this as such. I would say even if some text say this directly, it is bigotry and should be avoided because its just nonsense. The same sentiment goes to some Christians. But it could be that Muslims and Christians are so vast in numbers that I encounter them more.

2. Some Atheists think that all theists are just stupid. They think all theists are just uneducated, and in fact, about a decade ago I did notice that there was a uprising in atheistic polemics that all theists are just uneducated. And I have known some ex Christians who became Muslims who have told me that once they became Muslims they noticed that the atheistic idea that all theists are just plain stupid and uneducated increased. But this is not based on a worldwide study of course. I have noticed in this very forum. Sometimes when you present some kind of research, they find the researcher was Christian, the atheist had this idea that since he is Christian its invalid. But hey, they took Newton and Algebra. I think that's hypocritical really.

Its better to put it bluntly. This is bigotry. Unresearched, yes. But what ever the background is, or the level of research finding, it is in my opinion, just bigotry because I personally believe that this kind of thinking is not based on research. Its just an indoctrination of some kind.

What do you think?
 

JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
Yes, its bigotry.

Normally, I'd say exposure is key. Being exposed to people you disagree with on a personal level often helps these things disappear. But it has to be personal. Simply rubbing elbows won't do.

By seeing the 'enemy' is just as moral/human/intelligent as you, and possibly even turning them into a 'friend', is the only way many ever drop such discriminatory ideas.
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Ive been thinking about this topic for about a decade and have been finding bigotry not only prevailing but increasing. Ill give some examples. Mind you, you may consider this anecdotal, no problem.

1. Some Muslims have this idea that all who dont believe in the prophet Muhammed are lacking morals. This seems like an arbitrary idea, and I am yet to see some scholarly exegesis of what ever Islamic text that states this as such. I would say even if some text say this directly, it is bigotry and should be avoided because its just nonsense. The same sentiment goes to some Christians. But it could be that Muslims and Christians are so vast in numbers that I encounter them more.

2. Some Atheists think that all theists are just stupid. They think all theists are just uneducated, and in fact, about a decade ago I did notice that there was a uprising in atheistic polemics that all theists are just uneducated. And I have known some ex Christians who became Muslims who have told me that once they became Muslims they noticed that the atheistic idea that all theists are just plain stupid and uneducated increased. But this is not based on a worldwide study of course. I have noticed in this very forum. Sometimes when you present some kind of research, they find the researcher was Christian, the atheist had this idea that since he is Christian its invalid. But hey, they took Newton and Algebra. I think that's hypocritical really.

Its better to put it bluntly. This is bigotry. Unresearched, yes. But what ever the background is, or the level of research finding, it is in my opinion, just bigotry because I personally believe that this kind of thinking is not based on research. Its just an indoctrination of some kind.

What do you think?
I dunno.

Should people be forced to be around others they don't like?

It's a toughie but I can see bigotry when people are put at a disadvantage.

I guess it depends on how one views things.
 

firedragon

Veteran Member
Yes, its bigotry.

Normally, I'd say exposure is key. Being exposed to people you disagree with on a personal level often helps these things disappear. But it has to be personal. Simply rubbing elbows won't do.

By seeing the 'enemy' is just as moral/human/intelligent as you, and possibly even turning them into a 'friend', is the only way many ever drop such discriminatory ideas.

Hmm. I must agree.
 

firedragon

Veteran Member
I dunno.

Should people be forced to be around others they don't like?

It's a toughie but I can see bigotry when people are put at a disadvantage.

I guess it depends on how one views things.

Not really. Bigotry is when you consider a whole group of people to have an issue with themselves for simply being "them".

e.g. All atheists are immoral.

Thats bigotry. There is no ifs and buts or a subjective reinterpretation of it.

But there could be some people who think that atheists are just immoral because of who they are, and others may say that's correct. They are called bigots.

Hope you understand.
 

PoetPhilosopher

Veteran Member
No its not bigotry.

Screenshot_20211120-140038~2.png
 

JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
It's a religious belief if they keep it to themselves, but the second they say "Do this or you might be tortured for eternity" to someone else who's not a part of the faith, to me it can become bigotry.

I think it depends on the attitude of the person with the belief.

The smug "I'm better than you, 'cause you all are gonna burn!" smacks of bigotry.

However, I've had to comfort a crying friend because he feared I was going to burn in hell didn't seem bigoted. He was genuinely tortured himself by this belief, and I felt very sad for him.
 

PureX

Veteran Member
Ive been thinking about this topic for about a decade and have been finding bigotry not only prevailing but increasing. Ill give some examples. Mind you, you may consider this anecdotal, no problem.

1. Some Muslims have this idea that all who dont believe in the prophet Muhammed are lacking morals. This seems like an arbitrary idea, and I am yet to see some scholarly exegesis of what ever Islamic text that states this as such. I would say even if some text say this directly, it is bigotry and should be avoided because its just nonsense. The same sentiment goes to some Christians. But it could be that Muslims and Christians are so vast in numbers that I encounter them more.

2. Some Atheists think that all theists are just stupid. They think all theists are just uneducated, and in fact, about a decade ago I did notice that there was a uprising in atheistic polemics that all theists are just uneducated. And I have known some ex Christians who became Muslims who have told me that once they became Muslims they noticed that the atheistic idea that all theists are just plain stupid and uneducated increased. But this is not based on a worldwide study of course. I have noticed in this very forum. Sometimes when you present some kind of research, they find the researcher was Christian, the atheist had this idea that since he is Christian its invalid. But hey, they took Newton and Algebra. I think that's hypocritical really.

Its better to put it bluntly. This is bigotry. Unresearched, yes. But what ever the background is, or the level of research finding, it is in my opinion, just bigotry because I personally believe that this kind of thinking is not based on research. Its just an indoctrination of some kind.

What do you think?
The need to raise one's self-esteem by putting other people down (and appearing superior in comparison) is unfortunately very commonplace among humans. We are a species steeped in social "pecking order" and the idea of how we are being esteemed among our fellow humans is a big deal to us. So much so that we are often willing to unjustly sacrifice the esteem of others to increase our own. And this is what fuels our bigotry toward those we seek to raise ourselves above.

I agree with you that the past several decades has seen a marked increase in those sort of behaviors and I think there are two main reasons for this. One is that people are feeling increasingly ignored and abused by and within their own society thanks to an economic system that is wildly rigged and skewed in favor of the wealthiest few at the expense of the many. And the second reason is that our political system is adversarial and binary and so each party wants and needs to demonize the other to try and win our votes. It is essentially a process fueled by bigotry of the most blatant and glaring sort, and it's now a constant refrain from one election cycle to the next. Bigotry has become 'normalized' as a form of acceptable social-political competition. And it's become an easy meme for us to fall into if we are not willing to be mindful of our own behavioral motives.
 
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VoidCat

Pronouns: he/him/they/them
This may not be related but in regards to Christians being bigots due to feeling those of other beliefs have no moral compass...before I was a luciferian pagan I just worshipped Hecate. And that was the only goddess I worshipped at the time this event took place. Lucifer I didn't even believe in. Anyway... I was living with my grandma who found out not by my choice I was a pagan. I was leaving the house to go to a group home. She decided to look through all my stuff to make sure I didn't steal anything. However she didnt look through my sister's before she left. My sister and I theorize my religious beliefs are why since even tho I didn't believe in satan no matter how much I tried to tell her that she thought I was a devilworshipper just cuz I was a pagan amd I didn't and still don't believe in a devil. So she profiled me as a theft we think
 

firedragon

Veteran Member
This may not be related but in regards to Christians being bigots due to feeling those of other beliefs have no moral compass...before I was a luciferian pagan I just worshipped Hecate. And that was the only goddess I worshipped at the time this event took place. Lucifer I didn't even believe in. Anyway... I was living with my grandma who found out not by my choice I was a pagan. I was leaving the house to go to a group home. She decided to look through all my stuff to make sure I didn't steal anything. However she didnt look through my sister's before she left. My sister and I theorize my religious beliefs are why since even tho I didn't believe in satan no matter how much I tried to tell her that she thought I was a devilworshipper just cuz I was a pagan amd I didn't and still don't believe in a devil. So she profiled me as a theft we think

A few months ago I was at a discussion with young people in a group of mixed theological and non-theological backgrounds. There was a girl who was a satanist. To me, this girl was anyones super wife or super mom.

See, dont misunderstand. me. Some religion might think that all satanists will go to hell. Thats their belief and is a belief of the after life. But if they believe all satanists are crazy, immoral or murderous, that's stupid.

If you encounter some Arab, old school beguines with not much interaction with high tech society, in the same rich country, you will see these people so different, so loving, so caring and so ethical it would blow your mind. People are so different in all walks of life. This is fact.

But then you get some people who think they are so superior in knowledge, and perceiving an encounter in this very forum, one person from a big shot society as claimed did not understand that poor people from a corner of Asia do not have have the capacity to make baby making plans and had to walk several miles to catch a bus. It was shameful. But he thinks he being who he is is superior in knowledge and others are just plain stupid.

That is bigotry.
 

firedragon

Veteran Member
The need to raise one's self-esteem by putting other people down (and appearing superior in comparison) is unfortunately very commonplace among humans. We are a species steeped in social "pecking order" and the idea of how we are being esteemed among our fellow humans is a big deal to us. So much so that we are often willing to unjustly sacrifice the esteem of others to increase our own. And this is what fuels our bigotry toward those we seek to raise ourselves above.

I agree with you that the past several decades has seen a marked increase in those sort of behaviors and I think there are two main reasons for this. One is that people are feeling increasingly ignored and abused by and within their own society thanks to an economic system that is wildly rigged and skewed in favor of the wealthiest few at the expense of the many. And the second reason is that our political system is adversarial and binary and so each party wants and needs to demonize the other to try and win our votes. It is essentially a process fueled by bigotry of the most blatant and glaring sort, and it's now a constant refrain from one election cycle to the next. Bigotry has become 'normalized' as a form of acceptable social-political competition. And it's become an easy meme for us to fall into if we are not willing to be mindful of our own behavioral motives.

Im gonna ask you an irrelevant question. Sorry, cant help it. You can sew me later. No no wait. Its sue me, not sew me.

What do you mean by Taoist Christian? When you have time.
 
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