Stereotyped-socialization and inter-group relations: A biblical perspective
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Date
2016-02-07
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Ruwaza Africa
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.
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Keywords
Socialization, Stereotype(s), Inter-ethnic group relations, us- them, otherness, Social identities
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