Bigotry
BIGOTRY
Consists in being obstinately and perversely attached to our own opinions; or, as some have defined it, “a tenacious adherence to a system adopted without investigation, and defended without argument, accompanied with a malignant intolerant spirit towards all who differ.” It must be distinguished from love to truth, which influences a man to embrace it wherever he finds it; and from true zeal, which is an ardour of mind exciting its possessor to defend and propagate the principles he maintains. Bigotry is a kind of prejudice combined with a certain degree of malignity. It is thus exemplified and distinguished by a sensible writer. “When Jesus preached, prejudice cried, Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Crucify him, crucify him, said bigotry. Why? what evil hath he done? replied candour.” Bigotry is mostly prevalent with those who are ignorant; who have taken up principles without due examination and who are naturally of a morose and contracted disposition.
It is often manifested more in unimportant sentiments, or the circumstantials of religion, than the essentials of it. Simple bigotry is the spirit of persecution without the power; perscution is bigotry armed with power, and carrying its will into act. As it is the effect of ignorance, so it is the nurse of it, because it precludes free enquiry, and is an enemy to truth: it cuts also the very sinews of charity, and destroys moderation and mutual good will. If we consider the different makes of men’s minds, our own ignorance, the liberty that all men have to think for themselves, the admirable example our Lord has set us of a contrary spirit, and the baneful effects of this disposition, we must at once be convinced of its impropriety. How contradictory is it to sound reason, and how inimical to the peaceful religion we profess to maintain as Christians!
See PERSECUTION, and books under that article.
Fuente: Theological Dictionary
Bigotry
consists in being obstinately and perversely attached to our own opinions, or, as some have defined it, a tenacious adherence to a system adopted without investigation and defended without argument; accompanied with a malignant, intolerant spirit towards all who differ. It must be distinguished from love to truth, which influences a man to embrace it wherever he finds it, and from true zeal, which is an ardor of mind exciting its possessor to defend and propagate the principles he maintains. Bigotry is a kind of prejudice combined with a certain degree of malignity. Bigotry is mostly prevalent with those who are ignorant, who, have taken up principles without due examination, and who are naturally of a morose and contracted disposition. It is often manifested more in unimportant sentiments or the circumstantials of religion than in the essentials of it. Simple bigotry is the spirit of persecution without the power; persecution is bigotry armed with power, and carrying its will into act. As bigotry is the effect of ignorance, so it is the nurse of it, because it precludes free inquiry, and is an, enemy to truth; it cuts also the very sinews of charity, and destroys moderation and mutual good-will. If we consider the different constitution of men’s minds, our own ignorance, the liberty that all men have to think for themselves, the admirable example our Lord has set us of a contrary spirit, and the baneful effects of this disposition, we must at o-ce be convinced of its impropriety. How contradictory is it to sound reason, and how inimical to. the peaceful religion we profess to maintain as Christians! SEE CATHOLICISM; SEE PERSECUTION; SEE TOLERATION.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Bigotry
General references
Isa 65:5; Mar 2:16; Luk 15:2; Luk 9:49-50; Luk 18:9-14; Act 10:28; Act 10:45; Act 18:12-13
Paul’s argument against
Rom 3:1-23; Rom 4:1-16; Rom 4:23-25
Instances of:
– Of Joshua, through envy seeking to suppress Eldad and Medad who were prophesying
Num 11:27-29
– Of Jews:
b With regard to the Samaritans
Joh 4:9; Joh 4:27
b In rejecting the teachings of Jesus at Nazareth
Luk 4:28
b In falsely accusing Jesus:
b Of blasphemy
Joh 5:18
b Of being a gluttonous man and winebibber
Mat 11:18-19
b Of keeping company with sinners
Luk 7:39; Luk 15:2; Luk 19:5-7
b Of not conforming to the traditions
Luk 11:38-39
b In their treatment of the young man who was born blind, whom Jesus restored to sight
Joh 9:28-29; Joh 9:34
b With regard to Paul’s preaching
Act 21:28-29; Act 22:22
– Of the Samaritans in refusing to receive Jesus
Luk 9:52-53
– Of the disciples in forbidding children to be brought to Jesus
Mat 19:13; Mar 10:13; Luk 18:15
– Of the early Christians:
b In opposing the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles
Act 10:45; Act 11:2-3; Act 21:20-25
b In regard to circumcision
Act 15:1-10; Act 15:24; Gal 2:3-5
– In zeal
Rom 10:2-3
– In persecutions
1Th 2:15-16
– Of John in forbidding the casting out of devils by one who did not follow Jesus
Mar 9:38-40; Luk 9:49-50
– Of James and John in desiring to call down fire upon the Samaritans who would not receive Jesus
Luk 9:51-56
– Of Saul, in persecuting the Christians
Act 22:3-4; Act 9:1-5; Act 26:9; Gal 1:13-14; Phi 3:6 Intolerance, Religious; Persecution; Uncharitableness