Views of being a chosen people are sometimes connected with ethnocentrism. The idea of a chosen people can be used to justify or create cultural imperialism, racism, and xenophobia. Some groups who have elected to think of themselves as "chosen," but who are uncomfortable with the superiority this would seem to imply, have argued that the "chosen status" by definition is a humbling one, as it carries responsibility and sacrifice, rather than simple privilege. This argument is common among traditional religious Jews and Christians alike. Another argument against the inherent moral, ethnic, or cultural polarization that can accompany the idea of chosenness is the notion that while one's own group might be chosen for one thing, it is probable that other groups are chosen for something else. This latter argument is made by some factions within Reconstructionist Judaism and other liberal or left-leaning Jewish groups.
2006-10-11
16:33:29
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JIBBA JABBA
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Religion & Spirituality