Saturday, January 02, 2010

the truth, which abolishes prejudice



Jesus’ example was radical. Over and over he tried to tell people to differentiate between tradition and truth – and he called them to follow the truth, which abolishes prejudice.

~ Jill Briscoe ~
Christian author, lecturer, and founder of the magazine,
Just Between Us

We all do it. I know I do. However I am much more blind to my offenses than to being offended by the prejudices of others.

People look at me and decide they know who I am. They don't check it out with me. They simply assume they know the truth. Always they are partially wrong. Sometimes they are totally wrong. It wouldn't matter so much if they didn't also have negative judgment to go along with their prejudices about me, and that's what really hurts.

Being the object of prejudice makes one powerless. The subject becomes invisible, now the object of judgment--no longer an individual with capacity for relationship. If I am the object of your prejudice, I don't exist. I can't change your mind. You are not relating to me. And if there is no relationship, how can I dispel your myths about me?

Let's make a deal. Let's simply look for the truth--about ourselves, about others.

"...the truth, which abolishes prejudice."

5 comments:

Deb Shucka said...

I am so with you here! Very thoughtful post. I'm reading Mary Karr's Lit right now and when referring to her failed marriage, she owns her own blinded sight.

Mary'sCorner said...

Well said, B.

Carrie Wilson Link said...

Always they are partially wrong when they look at you? I only see love and goodness when I see you. I know I'm not wrong. I'd swear to it.

Anonymous said...

You made me think how sometimes I am shocked by discovering I have made a judgment when I like to think I'm so non-prejudiced. "Don't DO that," I tell myself.

Susan O'Neil said...

I am seriously in love with your kitty cats.