Theos-Talk Archives (January 1997 Message tl00468)

Prejudice and collective karma are directly related.  The combination of
the average individual of a certain group being perceived to act
differently from the average individual of another group and lack of
complete information about particular individuals from those groups makes
prejudice inevitable. 

The only way judging individuals on their own merits is better than
prejudice is that it is probably more accurate.  There is nothing wrong
with tentatively making probability estimates of the behavior of
individuals based on group behavior.  Prejudice only becomes wrong when
such estimates take precedence over judging individuals on their own
merits.

Accusations of prejudice have been abused.  Charges of sexism, racism,
anti-Semitism, homophobia, etc. have been carelessly thrown around, without
distinguishing between the times when information about an individual could
reasonably have been obtained and when it could not have been.  Crime
statistics make certain assumptions about suspecting certain individuals of
crimes valid.  When there is a call to the police about domestic violence
between a husband and a wife, the police tend to assume that the husband is
most likely guilty.  Until they gain information to the contrary in
specific cases, this is a valid prejudice, due simply to the fact that men
are far more violent and destructive than are women.    

Only those who demonstrate a preference for judging individuals by the
actions of the group of which they are a member over judging individuals on
their own merits should be charged with prejudice.  Tentative conclusions
based on group behavior, before information about individuals can
reasonably be obtained, should not incur such a charge.