Judaism: Prejudice & Discrimination (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B) : Revision Note

What are Prejudice and Discrimination?

• Prejudice and discrimination are both related to negative attitudes and behaviours towards individuals or groups based on characteristics like race, gender, religion, or disability

Prejudice

• Prejudice refers to prejudging or forming an opinion about someone or a group without knowing them

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

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

  • An example could be if 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

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

• It is the unfair treatment of individuals or groups because of characteristics like their race, gender, religion, disability, or sexual orientation

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

  • An example would be that a person might be discriminated against in a job interview because of their religious beliefs, even if they are qualified for the role

What does Judaism teach about prejudice and discrimination?

• Judaism teaches that all people are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27)

  • This means every individual, regardless of race, gender, or background, has inherent dignity and worth

• The Torah commands Jews to love their neighbour as themselves (Leviticus 19:18)

  • This means showing respect, kindness, and fairness to all people, and prejudice and discrimination contradict this core teaching

• Justice is a key value in Judaism, and the Torah calls for the fair treatment of others, especially the marginalised, such as the poor, orphans, widows, and foreigners (Deuteronomy 24:17-22)

  • Discrimination against these groups is seen as a violation of justice

• Judaism teaches against hatred and slander

  • For example, Leviticus 19:16 says, ‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people’ 

    • This teaches Jews to avoid harmful stereotypes, gossip, and prejudice about others

• Judaism teaches that Jews should be hospitable and kind to strangers

  • The Torah reminds Jews to treat foreigners with respect because they were once strangers in Egypt (Exodus 22:21)

  • Discriminating against others, especially newcomers or immigrants, is against Jewish values

• The prophets in the Hebrew Bible, like Isaiah and Amos, strongly condemned the injustice of prejudice and discrimination

  • They fought for the rights of the oppressed and called for society to care for the vulnerable, including the poor, orphans, and widows

• Historically, there has been persecution of Jews in the past (for example, the Holocaust) and so there is an understanding of the damage that can be done by stereotyping and discriminating against others

What is religious prejudice / discrimination?

• Religious prejudice and discrimination refer to the unfair treatment, bias, or hostility directed towards individuals or groups based on their religious beliefs or practices

• Religious prejudice is negative judgement or hostility towards people because of their religion

  • It can involve stereotyping, misunderstanding, or intolerance based on religious beliefs or customs

  • An example would be, making assumptions about someone simply because they follow a different religion

• Religious discrimination is when someone is treated unfairly or denied rights because of their religion, and can happen in areas like employment, education, housing, or social interaction

  • Examples include not hiring someone because they wear a religious symbol, or denying access to services or opportunities because of religious beliefs

• Both prejudice and discrimination can lead to social exclusion, inequality, and divisions between different religious groups, affecting social harmony and peace

• Religious prejudice and discrimination violate the right to freedom of religion and often cause harm to those affected

What does Judaism teach about religious prejudice / discrimination?

• Judaism teaches that religious prejudice and discrimination are wrong because all people are created equal in the eyes of God

• Jews are called to show respect, fairness, and compassion to everyone, no matter their faith

• The core Jewish values of justice, kindness, and peace encourage the rejection of religious intolerance and discrimination

• While Jews believe their covenant with God is unique, they also recognise that God is the creator of all and is involved in the lives of people from all faiths

  • This belief encourages Jews to respect the religious practices and beliefs of others as part of the shared human experience

  • The Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) believe in one God (monotheism) and share some similar values, such as the importance of faith, prayer, charity, and morality

    • This can lead to a greater religious tolerance for some Jews

How do the views of situation ethics about prejudice and discrimination differ from Jewish teachings?

• Both situation ethics and Jewish beliefs highlight the importance of love and fairness in dealings with others

• Situation ethics focuses on love as the guiding principle in every situation, which leads to rejecting prejudice and discrimination as unloving

• Similarly, Judaism teaches that people should be treated fairly, justly, and with respect, based on the idea that all humans are created equal in the eyes of God

• Both approaches encourage respect for others and rejection of discriminatory practices because they go against the values of love, justice, and equality

• There are some distinct differences in their approaches to prejudice and discrimination

  • Situation ethics focuses on individual situations and flexibility, prioritising agape love above fixed rules and can apply to anyone, regardless of their faith

• Judaism relies on Torah laws and religious principles, with a strong focus on following God’s commands for ethical behaviour and treating all people equally

• Both promote fairness, love, and respect for all people, but Judaism is based on following religious laws, while Situation Ethics focuses on the most loving action in each unique circumstance