PREJUDICE OR BIGOTRY
by Dr. Lawrence Wilson
© January 2023, LD Wilson Consultants, Inc.
All information in this article is for educational purposes only. It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.
I. INTRODUCTION
DEFINITIONS
1. Prejudice or bigotry is mental situation in which one holds a false generalized and usually negative belief about some aspect of a group of people or something else.
2. A negative attitude toward another person or group formed in advance of any experience with that person or group. The word prejudice is to pre-judge, or to judge without a lot of evidence.
Prejudices include an affective component (emotions that range from mild nervousness to hatred), a cognitive component (assumptions and beliefs about groups, including stereotypes), and a behavioral component (negative behaviors, including discrimination and violence).
3. Any preconceived attitude or view, whether favorable or unfavorable.
4. The act or state of holding unreasonable preconceived judgments or convictions.
5. An adverse judgment or opinion formed unfairly or without knowledge of the facts.
6. Irrational suspicion or hatred of a particular social group, such as a race or the adherents of a religion.
Prejudice based on racial grouping is called racism; prejudice based on sex is called sexism; prejudice based on chronological age is ageism; and prejudice based on disability is ableism.
THE OPPOSITE OF PREJUDICE
A good way to understand something is to examine its opposite. The opposite of prejudice or bigotry is a belief in equal rights, equal justice, equal opportunity and equality under the law for all people.
PREJUDICE IS A TYPE OF LAZINESS
In fact, all people are unique because their soul level of maturity and experience. The souls are what determines a person's attitudes and behavior.
Prejudice or bigotry is really just a form of laziness in which one does not want to bother to assess each person's attitudes and behavior. Instead, one generalizes based upon superficial qualities such as religion, race or skin color.
II. THE PREJUDICE PROBLEM ON EARTH
Prejudice is an enormous problem on earth. Some believe it is a major force that is holding back spiritual and other types of progress on earth. This is the main reason for this article – to better understand prejudice so it can be eradicated on our planet.
PREJUDICE DIFFICULT TO CHANGE
Prejudices tend to be resistant to change because they distort the prejudiced individual’s perception of information pertaining to the group.
THE PROBLEM OF PROJECTING PREJUDICE OR BIGOTRY
Commonly, those who hold prejudiced views project those views onto others. It is a way they do not need to deal with their own prejudice or bigotry.
Projecting is a trick of the mind in which anything that is not acceptable to the mind is “thrown out” of the mind and assigned to others. It is a bad mental habit, but one that is quite common.
III. CONSEQUENCES OF PREJUDICE
The consequences of prejudice are severe and very destructive to a society or to an individual. Basically, the consequence is it moves a person toward hatred of others. Since at one level we are all related, hatred is always very disruptive and destructive to onself.
IV. WHAT TO DO ABOUT PREJUDICE
PREJUDICE IN YOURSELF
The first thing is to realize it is occurring.
A second step would be to ask yourself why is it occurring. What happened to you to cause this attitude?
Desire. A third step is to decide that you don't want it. This is a desire level of understanding. At this level, you may be able to control your thoughts and emotions. However, you realize something is wrong because prejudice is not logical and reasonable to a healthy mind. In fact, it is very destructive of your peace, your health and your happiness.
Intention. Next, you must continue to pay attention to your attitudes. You need to learn more about it. For example, read books by people who don't agree with your point of view. This step may be called intention. It is a more focused desire on your part to understand your prejudice and figure out how to let it go.
Allowing. Allow yourself to understand and try out different viewpoints. If you do this honestly and thoroughly, it will cause a change in your mind.
Surrender. This means letting go of your prejudice as you realize it is wrong or incorrect.
REQUIRES LOVE AND EFFORT
Doing the above requires self-love. Here are some of the efforts required:
Set a good example. Keep your intentions pure.
Do research to understand the truth.
Have patience because most people don't change overnight.
Have persistence because usually the person with prejudice is getting reinforcement from friends, family or others for thelr prejudice. So you have to continue to act as a counterbalancing force, usually for some time.
Have emotional detachment from the situation so that one does not become too emotionally involved to the degree that if the other does not change one is devastated. One could also say if the other changes, one should not become too elated.
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU OBSERVE PREJUDICE IN ANOTHER PERSON
Same steps as above.
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU OBSERVE PREJUDICE AT A CULTURAL, LEGAL, RELIGIOUS OR OTHER HIGHER LEVEL OF SOCIETY
You can try to become a leader and change the official doctrine. You can work with the existing leaders to help them change. You can do research and write articles and books to help everyone to change. You can set an example for others to follow.
Recognize that Love is the radiance of the Creator and it comes through all people regardless of their race, color, religion or anything else. Also recall the principle that only love heals.
Pray! Ask the Father In Heaven for guidance as to what to do. Have a soul perspective. Also, always pray that Thy Will be done.
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