by Ginger Kazay

Created on: September 29, 2010

Of course, belief breeds prejudice! It makes no difference whether the belief is based in religion, tradition, politics, economics, or science. As soon as a person forms a firm belief in something, anyone who professes a belief in anything which goes against that belief is thought to be wrong and therefore that person must be lacking in some way.

Prejudice is simply defined as "a pre-judgement - an assumption made about someone or something before having adequate knowledge to be able to do so with guaranteed accuracy."

You can see prejudice everyday in your own country, city, and even your own life.

People prejudge others every day based on - race, religion, sex, age, politics, sports teams, etc. You can get along famously with someone until you find they have a belief different from your own. Then, depending on how "tolerant" you are, you may or may not still get along with them; but, you will always have that prejudice there in the background making you think less of them than you did before.

Tradition and/or religion tells people that women are less intelligent and less worthy than men. So, both men and women believe this is true until they run into another culture with traditions/religions which honor women as either equals or superiors. The first group automatically assumes the second group is wrong/ inferior because of their beliefs and the second group believes the first group is wrong/inferior because of their beliefs. Both groups are prejudiced and will think less of the other group until prolonged exposure adjusts either their beliefs or removes their prejudice and starts to judge them solely on their merits.

Religious leaders tell us that homosexuality is a sin, unnatural, and evil. If you believe this belief is true; then, you are always going to be prejudiced towards a person you know or suspect is homosexual.

If you believe your religious beliefs are the only correct ones; then, you prejudge others who believe in other religions as either uneducated (no one taught them the correct beliefs) or stupid (they are too stupid to see that my beliefs are the right ones and their beliefs are wrong).

Evolution - scientists cannot understand why these "religious fanatics" cannot accept the proof that has been acquired over the years as truth and religious people cannot understand why these scientist cannot simply have faith. Both groups are being prejudiced since many scientists still believe in God and that evolution is part of his plan and many religious

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