Is This Part of Church Teaching?

[Job42]

I put this into the Philosophy Forum because I thought it was the most appropriate place. What does the Church have to say about the idea that entire ethnic groups can be defined in terms of positive and negative personality traits? It seems to be biblical according to my understanding of Scripture but I am struggling w/ the idea to be honest .

 

[tonyrey]

I put this into the Philosophy Forum because I thought it was the most appropriate place. What does the Church have to say about the idea that entire ethnic groups can be defined in terms of positive and negative personality traits? It seems to be biblical according to my understanding of Scripture but I am struggling w/ the idea to be honest .

Which passages lead you to that conclusion?

 

[Job42]

Which passages lead you to that conclusion?

Well one is in Genesis chapter 16 where the LORD tells Hagar about her son Ishmael. According to what I have heard, Ishmael is believed to be the father of the Arab peoples. But admittedly I don’t know if the Church teaches this about Ishmael.

Also when Jacob/Israel is dying he prophesies about his twelve sons/tribes as if each of the tribes have a personality.

 

[Shike]

I put this into the Philosophy Forum because I thought it was the most appropriate place. What does the Church have to say about the idea that entire ethnic groups can be defined in terms of positive and negative personality traits? It seems to be biblical according to my understanding of Scripture but I am struggling w/ the idea to be honest .

Just because it happens (if it happens) in the Bible doesn’t mean that you should do it or that it is good or bad.

That said, I’m no scripture expert, but it seems to me those Scripture passages you gave would be somewhat prophetical, rather than unfairly judging someone.