Stereotyped-socialization and inter-group relations: A biblical perspective

Bariu, Richard, Mutura

Stereotyped-socialization and inter-group relations: A biblical perspective

dc.contributor.author	Bariu, Richard, Mutura
dc.date.accessioned	2024-03-19T13:03:09Z
dc.date.available	2016-02-12T07:16:26Z
dc.date.available	2024-03-19T13:03:09Z
dc.date.issued	2016-02-07
dc.description	PDF Journal article	en_US
dc.description.abstract	In this paper we present evidence from scripture using insights from social psychological models that will help examine the link between socialization, stereotyping and inter-ethnic group relations. We argue that each community is socialized in ways that strengthen social identification among its members. We further argue that ethnicity is socially constructed with boundaries that are permeable and in continuous flux. Group socializations even from extant past are oriented on the basis of 'us' and 'them'. Stories, riddles, parables and proverbs are told so as to transform the the social world of the members to reflect their values, norms and beliefs. By doing this they create a shared collective memory. The 'us' and 'they' socialization is therefore part of biblical orientation among communities and has definitively defined the inter-group relations. We will look at the role of stereotypes in shared memories of other groups. We posit that each group has a way of defining itself that is, more often than not, in relation to other groups. We will look at inter-group orientations in the old testament during different historical periods in general and in particular, we will look at some of the food laws in the old testament as a way of rethinking their function in inter-group relations. We will also look at socialization and inter-group relations redefined in the New Testament teachings. In sum we argue that the relations between ethnic groups are critically dependent on the socialization that shaped the social identities of each community and particularly on the meaning ascribed to the events in relationship to social identities. As a conclusion, we will briefly look at the role of socialization and stereotyping in defining our contemporary inter-ethnic group relations.
dc.identifier.issn	2225-7144
dc.identifier.uri	https://repo.pacuniversity.ac.ke/handle/123456789/492.2
dc.language.iso	en
dc.publisher	Ruwaza Africa	en_US
dc.relation.ispartofseries	Journal of contemporary research in Humanities and social sciences;Vol. 3 No.1
dc.subject	Socialization	en_US
dc.subject	Stereotype(s)	en_US
dc.subject	Inter-ethnic group relations	en_US
dc.subject	us- them	en_US
dc.subject	otherness	en_US
dc.subject	Social identities	en_US
dc.title	Stereotyped-socialization and inter-group relations: A biblical perspective	en_US
dc.type	Article