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Origins of Stereotypes

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Will you post some stereotype origins?
  Yes, for education
  No thanks, I don't like to think about stereotypes
  I would but I don't know any stereotypes' origins
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Lumanny the Space Jew

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PostPosted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 10:30 am


Jewish Stereotypes:


-Jews have horns: This one's simple: People thinking Jews are demons/the devil. Also there is a highly misinterpreted Tanakh quote about rays of light coming from Moses' face as he descended mount Sinai. And a highly misinterpreted statue in Israel that at a certain angle looks to certain people like he has horns.

-Jews love money/ are rich/ are Cheapskates: 1390's Europe, in what some call "the First Holocaust," Jews are blamed for the Black Plague and made to wear special distinguishing clothing. Those who are not killed are forced to make a living as money-lenders, a position essential to the economy but taboo to Christians because lending money is a Christian sin called usury. The Jews end up charging exorbitant interest on loans just to put bread ont he table.

-Jews have big noses: A genetic disorder once prominent among Sephardi Jews.

-Jews are nerds: Education is a HUGE deal in Judaism, whether it be studying Talmud ot Tanakh or Midrash. The most pious Jews are always studying their books.

-Jews love Wine: On holidays and joyous occasions it is tradition to break out the blessing over the wine and have some to drink.
PostPosted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 10:32 am


Christian Stereotypes:


-Christians want to shove their religion down everyone else's throats: The Crusades, millions of forced conversions over the millenia when Christainity was only Enagelical, Evengelical Preachers on TV.

-Christians hate Gays: Used to be that all Christians did, as a tenent of Christianity. Many still do.

Lumanny the Space Jew

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Lumanny the Space Jew

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PostPosted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 10:37 am


Muslim Stereotypes:


-Muslims are all terrorists/ want to blow us all up: September 11, 2001: Terrorists who were Muslim radicals under Osama Bin laden, but not at all representative of all or even most muslims, hijacked commerical airline flights. They unsuccessfully attempted to fly one into the pentagon and successfully flew one into the Twin Towers in NYC.
Also, radical muslim car bombings and suicide bombings in the middle east.
PostPosted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 9:16 pm


My favorite was always that 'agnostics have no backbone'. It seems every time I hear that one it's because someone assumes that a person is agnostic so that they can be covered by every religion/lack of religion 'just in case'.

In my own case at least I'm agnostic not because I'm trying to be in both boats at the same time, it's that I acknowledge the possibility of a deity and don't presume to know whether or not any deity does or doesn't exist. I am ignorant of the truth in the matter of existence of deities and therefore refuse to claim that I do have such knowledge when I do not. That's it, that's all it is, a knowledge claim or 'lack of knowledge' claim and not any 'spineless' attempt on my part to not have to stand behind any beliefs while still being covered by them.

Sorry it annoys me. I'm sure everyone else has their own stereotypes that bug them, hence the thread.

Lateralus es Helica

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chessiejo

PostPosted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:37 am


Christians are atheists and eat babies.

this was a favorite accusation from their Roman persecutors.
PostPosted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 10:38 am


Atheist Stereotypes:

Atheists are arrogant know-it-alls. I hear this one most often. Generally, a good portion of the population seems to think that all of us go around ridiculing and scoffing at religious people. I guess because they think all of us use science and logic to "prove" we're right? I don't know. I was never good at science or logic, nor do I go around flaunting my "superior" beliefs.

Atheists are immoral. Because we don't have a holy book with rules to live by, we must be lost and horrible people. We're the most distrusted minority in America for some stupid reason. From what one religious zealot told me, we're "tearing down the moral fabric of society by existing." Whatever. We also apparently sacrifice animals and eat babies.

Atheists want to take religion out of everything. This applies more to the US than anything. I believe in freedom of religion, but a lot of religious folks don't get why some people don't like "In God we Trust" on our money or "under God" in our pledge. It doesn't alienate just atheists, it's everyone who isn't Christian (overlooking that quite a few religions have the same Abrahamic god.) I'm fine with people attending church, mosques, taking off work for religious holidays. It's when it gets into the government that it becomes an issue, and that's what we want to take it out of. Not everything (just speaking for myself on this comment, though).

h y p o c h r i s t i


Aakosir

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PostPosted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 10:55 am


The only stereotypes I can think of right now are racial...

But on a side note! My mom has a really big nose XD And so does my neighbor, neither are Jewish.
PostPosted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 5:10 pm


I've met a lot of Christians who hate jews, have even said "Jesus killer" BUT, when it comes to forming an alliance against Muslims, I've seen the SAME person say "I support Israel" just to be against Muslims.

OI VEY the world we live in...

Call Me Apple

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xxEverBluexx

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PostPosted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:59 pm


Well here's something interesting:
Main Entry: ethical
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: moral, righteous
Synonyms: Christian , clean, conscientious, correct, decent, elevated, equitable, fair, fitting, good, high-principled, honest, honorable, humane, just, kosher*, moralistic, noble, principled, proper, respectable, right, right-minded, square, straight, true blue, upright, upstanding, virtuous
Antonyms: corrupt, dishonest, immoral, improper, unethical, unjust, unrighteous

I think the thesaurus is biased.
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