What makes a bigot?

[MJZiggy]

Bigot
Big"ot\, n. [F. bigot a bigot or hypocrite, a name once given to the Normans in France. Of unknown origin; possibly akin to Sp. bigote a whisker; hombre de bigote a man of spirit and vigor; cf. It. s-bigottire to terrify, to appall. Wedgwood and others maintain that bigot is from the same source as Beguine, Beghard.]

1. A hypocrite; esp., a superstitious hypocrite. [Obs.]

2. A person who regards his own faith and views in matters of religion as unquestionably right, and any belief or opinion opposed to or differing from them as unreasonable or wicked. In an extended sense, a person who is intolerant of opinions which conflict with his own, as in politics or morals; one obstinately and blindly devoted to his own church, party, belief, or opinion.

To doubt, where bigots had been content to wonder and believe. --Macaulay.

I love how this definition explicitly states "in matters of religion." They could have left that out and just said somebody who believes their own belief or opinion as unquestionably right. Maybe they should add anybody who judges a religious person as a bigot based on their own belief or opinion. Nah, they wouldn't do that. I'm actually surprised they didn't just say a Christian--because it has become en vogue to say things like this about Christians, but not other faiths.

Whaddaya want? Three different dictionary entries on dictionary.com specifically stated religion. At least all of them didn't include hypocrisy...

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Bigot
Big"ot\, n. [F. bigot a bigot or hypocrite, a name once given to the Normans in France. Of unknown origin; possibly akin to Sp. bigote a whisker; hombre de bigote a man of spirit and vigor; cf. It. s-bigottire to terrify, to appall. Wedgwood and others maintain that bigot is from the same source as Beguine, Beghard.]

1. A hypocrite; esp., a superstitious hypocrite. [Obs.]

2. A person who regards his own faith and views in matters of religion as unquestionably right, and any belief or opinion opposed to or differing from them as unreasonable or wicked. In an extended sense, a person who is intolerant of opinions which conflict with his own, as in politics or morals; one obstinately and blindly devoted to his own church, party, belief, or opinion.

To doubt, where bigots had been content to wonder and believe. --Macaulay.

I love how this definition explicitly states "in matters of religion." They could have left that out and just said somebody who believes their own belief or opinion as unquestionably right. Maybe they should add anybody who judges a religious person as a bigot based on their own belief or opinion. Nah, they wouldn't do that. I'm actually surprised they didn't just say a Christian--because it has become en vogue to say things like this about Christians, but not other faiths.

It is SO hard to be a white christian male these days. My god, there are so few of them represented in gov't, big business, etc.

[texaspackerbacker]

How did a worthwhile and significant thread like this end up in here instead of FYI?

Of Ziggy's three dictionary entries, #2 obviously comes the closest--although, it completely leaves out the racial aspect of the word, which in today's usage is by far the most common.

As for the right and wrong of the whole issue--which is undoubtedly what the original poster was discussing, and why this belongs in the political room, the words BIGOT and BIGOTRY are primarily used nowadays by the bad people to disparage the good people who care enough to express the philosophies that make them good.

That can be applied to religion, politics, morality separate from religion, race, sexual preference, and probably a few other areas I've left out.

The best way for a good person to react to the charge of bigotry? Think like Patrick Henry's famous quote: "If this be treason, make the most of it"--just substitute the word, bigotry for treason.

[Kiwon]

People yell out racist and bigot for reaction anymore. Fuck the people in your class.

But if you tell people that their way of life is wrong in your opinion, well as the saying goes, judge not lest ye be judged yourself.

Nicely written.

Ah.....er....not really. The "saying" is a biblical quote (Matthew 7:1) and the word "judge" is misapplied.

But back to crosbiegrad's question, "Is it bigoted to believe that marriage is sacred and between one man and one woman?"

He is a bigot, Zool?

Is he supposed to believe something and then not express it publicly in class because someone will feel "judged?"

[Tyrone Bigguns]

People yell out racist and bigot for reaction anymore. Fuck the people in your class.

But if you tell people that their way of life is wrong in your opinion, well as the saying goes, judge not lest ye be judged yourself.

Nicely written.

Ah.....er....not really. The "saying" is a biblical quote (Matthew 7:1) and the word "judge" is misapplied.

But back to crosbiegrad's question, "Is it bigoted to believe that marriage is sacred and between one man and one woman?"

He is a bigot, Zool?

Is he supposed to believe something and then not express it publicly in class because someone will feel "judged?"

I'd like to take the plank out of your eye and hit you over the head with it.

[Kiwon]

People yell out racist and bigot for reaction anymore. Fuck the people in your class.

But if you tell people that their way of life is wrong in your opinion, well as the saying goes, judge not lest ye be judged yourself.

Nicely written.

Ah.....er....not really. The "saying" is a biblical quote (Matthew 7:1) and the word "judge" is misapplied.

But back to crosbiegrad's question, "Is it bigoted to believe that marriage is sacred and between one man and one woman?"

He is a bigot, Zool?

Is he supposed to believe something and then not express it publicly in class because someone will feel "judged?"

I'd like to take the plank out of your eye and hit you over the head with it.

I think you are quoting the Satanic Bible now.

What's the reference for that? Which chapter, which verse?

[Tyrone Bigguns]

People yell out racist and bigot for reaction anymore. Fuck the people in your class.

But if you tell people that their way of life is wrong in your opinion, well as the saying goes, judge not lest ye be judged yourself.

Nicely written.

Ah.....er....not really. The "saying" is a biblical quote (Matthew 7:1) and the word "judge" is misapplied.

But back to crosbiegrad's question, "Is it bigoted to believe that marriage is sacred and between one man and one woman?"

He is a bigot, Zool?

Is he supposed to believe something and then not express it publicly in class because someone will feel "judged?"

I'd like to take the plank out of your eye and hit you over the head with it.

I think you are quoting the Satanic Bible now.

What's the reference for that?

So good to see you call out others for misaplying the biblical verse..and then not recognizing a direct lift from the subsequent verse.

[Charles Woodson]

People yell out racist and bigot for reaction anymore. Fuck the people in your class.

But if you tell people that their way of life is wrong in your opinion, well as the saying goes, judge not lest ye be judged yourself.

Nicely written.

Ah.....er....not really. The "saying" is a biblical quote (Matthew 7:1) and the word "judge" is misapplied.

But back to crosbiegrad's question, "Is it bigoted to believe that marriage is sacred and between one man and one woman?"

He is a bigot, Zool?

Is he supposed to believe something and then not express it publicly in class because someone will feel "judged?"

I'd like to take the plank out of your eye and hit you over the head with it.

I think you are quoting the Satanic Bible now.

What's the reference for that?

So good to see you call out others for misaplying the biblical verse..and then not recognizing a direct lift from the subsequent verse.

I fail to see how thats a direct lift... The only resemblance is the plank in the eye part... so we have a person calling out someone for misapplying a verse, and then someone else calling out someone for misapplying a verse, and the later person misapplying a verse. interesting