Bigotry
Charles Buck Theological Dictionary [1]
Consists in being obstinately and perversely attached to our own opinions; or, as some have defined it, "a tenacious adherence to a system adopted without investigation, and defended without argument, accompanied with a malignant intolerant spirit towards all who differ." It must be distinguished from love to truth, which influences a man to embrace it wherever he finds it; and from true zeal, which is an ardour of mind exciting its possessor to defend and propagate the principles he maintains. Bigotry is a kind of prejudice combined with a certain degree of malignity. It is thus exemplified and distinguished by a sensible writer. "When Jesus preached, prejudice cried, Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Crucify him, crucify him, said bigotry. Why? what evil hath he done? replied candour." Bigotry is mostly prevalent with those who are ignorant; who have taken up principles without due examination and who are naturally of a morose and contracted disposition.
It is often manifested more in unimportant sentiments, or the circumstantials of religion, than the essentials of it. Simple bigotry is the spirit of persecution without the power; perscution is bigotry armed with power, and carrying its will into act. As it is the effect of ignorance, so it is the nurse of it, because it precludes free enquiry, and is an enemy to truth: it cuts also the very sinews of charity, and destroys moderation and mutual good will. If we consider the different makes of men's minds, our own ignorance, the liberty that all men have to think for themselves, the admirable example our Lord has set us of a contrary spirit, and the baneful effects of this disposition, we must at once be convinced of its impropriety. How contradictory is it to sound reason, and how inimical to the peaceful religion we profess to maintain as Christians!
See Persecution and books under that article.
Charles Spurgeon's Illustration Collection [2]
Some men magnify the importance of their own little clique of believers by denying the godliness of all who differ from them. They remind one of Bishop Racket's story. 'At Wimbledon,' says he, 'not far from me, a warrener promised Thomas, Earl of Exeter, that he should have a burrow of rabbits, all of them of what colour he pleased. 'Let them be all white,' said that good Earl. Whereupon I killed up all the rest but the white rabbits, and sold them away, and left not enough to serve the earl's table.'
A sorry few would be left to serve the Lord, and preserve the name of Christ upon earth, if some men's judgments could be final. Blessed be God, the Judge of saints is not the rabbi of any of the rival synagogues.
Webster's Dictionary [3]
(1): (n.) The state of mind of a bigot; obstinate and unreasoning attachment of one's own belief and opinions, with narrow-minded intolerance of beliefs opposed to them.
(2): (n.) The practice or tenets of a bigot.
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [4]
consists in being obstinately and perversely attached to our own opinions, or, as some have defined it, "a tenacious adherence to a system adopted without investigation and defended without argument; accompanied with a malignant, intolerant spirit towards all who differ." It must be distinguished from love to truth, which influences a man to embrace it wherever he finds it, and from true zeal, which is an ardor of mind exciting its possessor to defend and propagate the principles he maintains. Bigotry is a kind of prejudice combined with a certain degree of malignity. Bigotry is mostly prevalent with those who are ignorant, who, have taken up principles without due examination, and who are naturally of a morose and contracted disposition. It is often manifested more in unimportant sentiments or the circumstantials of religion than in the essentials of it. Simple bigotry is the spirit of persecution without the power; persecution is bigotry — armed with power, and carrying its will into act. As bigotry is the effect of ignorance, so it is the nurse of it, because it precludes free inquiry, and is an, enemy to truth; it cuts also the very sinews of charity, and destroys moderation and mutual good-will. If we consider the different constitution of men's minds, our own ignorance, the liberty that all men have to think for themselves, the admirable example our Lord has set us of a contrary spirit, and the baneful effects of this disposition, we must at o-ce be convinced of its impropriety. How contradictory is it to sound reason, and how inimical to. the peaceful religion we profess to maintain as Christians! (See Catholicism); (See Persecution); (See Toleration).
