The Key Issues of Religious Discrimination - Coursework Example

Religious Discrimination For a long time in the history of religion, there has been a religious conflict amongst the different groups of believers witnessed in different parts of the world. Reasons for the conflicts have been summarized to either be politically or religiously be instigated. As a result, the animosity that has existed between the different groups has led to a severe discrimination in the work place. The discrimination tendency motivated by religion has been experienced in the several areas like work place and other areas in which the different groups of people who profess different religion are brought together. This research paper sought to know the key issues that have motivated religious discrimination in the various parts of the world. This paper considers the opinions collected from the different parts of the world about the discrimination based on the religious grounds. The paper then has synthesized this information and compared then for grouping them n order to give coherence. Both interviews and use of secondary sources were used to reach a conclusion on the goals of this paper. The collected information where then tallied and finally published in this paper. The findings of the research are stipulated in this paper as in below. Introduction Religious discrimination entails all those treatments that are demonstrated to a person or a group of people because of their belief or disbelief. It is shown when certain actions are avoided or taken when dealing with specific groups of adherent in the interest of either law or in the institutional areas like housing and employment (Addison, 82). The extreme religious discriminations have also been manifested in religious persecution. This involves the deliberate action in which people are persecuted and killed because of their religious belief. This has been much witnessed when the situation consist of the majority and the minority. There is always the feeling that the minority should comply with the majority wishes leading to outbreak of war and unrests (Addison, 89). I this areas, it is also common to find that the laws are skewed to protect the majority than the minors, this lead to another level of discrimination. Even though in most constitution the freedom of association is granted, there is some degree of biasness to the minority and there has always been that complains by this groups that their rights are infringed contrary to the constitutional provision. The discrimination though has taken different turns in the different parts of the world. Issues in Religious Discrimination Intolerance of the Religious Groups In most case, people who belong to different religious groups do discriminate because of the long-standing history of “we are right and they are wrong (Hercock, 113).” The teachings in the different religious backgrounds do condemn other forms of religions and a belief is asserted on to the followers that the only way to seek the divine authority is by confessing a particular religion. This notion reaches a critical point in which it becomes palpable and natural animosity is instilled. To this extent, discrimination starts on the basis on both groups thinking that they have it right and the rest have it wrong and do not deserve to be integrated with. Whoever holds this kind of thought will find himself or herself biased when it comes to making decision amongst the two individuals, a classical example is when a Christian judge is adjudicating over a case between suspects of suicide in which a Christian and a Muslim are engaged. The judge because of religion belief and the fact that Muslims are known for suicidal acts may be biased against the Muslim even if he/she is not liable (Hercock, 116). Historical Rivalries It is to the interest of every religion to covert more people into their own beliefs. At times, the religious groups do want to convert other to pursue theirs because of preference, this has led into conflict of interest between religions, and offence is always taken for not showing respect to a religion but instead a direct affront (Hercock, 118). This habit of conquering in the past contributed into religious wars and many have been persecuted for preaching otherwise gospel in areas that are perceived to hold the contrary opinion in the world of religion. The concept of war has made it possible for the different religious groups to argue that they have been fought because of religious reason. This factor has demonstrated fierce discrimination among the religious groups. The historical reasons get to be imbibed onto the believers during their early days and they carry them along with them throughout life (Hercock, 144). Defilement Most of the teachings of the different religious groups are quite different. Some believe in the existence of the supernatural being while other believes that the supernatural being can be symbolized by any of the object or animal (Vickers, 203). This belief has elicited sharp criticism across the religious groups and others have taken offence that they are being defiled. For instance, Christians believe that the God, the creator of the earth and heaven is not visible and should not be compared with any other creator, which is believed to be his creation, while on the contrary the Buddhists believe that their god can be symbolized by an animal. To Christians, this is quite outrageous and a direct demonstration of defilement to the creator, in this regard Christians and Buddhists can hardly show concurrence and in most cases will discriminate against each other because of their belief (Vickers, 227). Preconditioning of the Mind It is a fact that religion is about faith, this faith is about conditioning the mind that you have taken the best option than any other. Faith on the other hand defies questioning, all one is required to do is to admit the teaching of the religion and subscribe to it. This conditioning of the mind through religion has made it possible for discrimination to come in. all the different religious groups believe they are right and any other scripture teachings is meant to antagonize their position (Vickers, 239). In this context, the different religious groups have naturally conceived the concept that it is a fight that is being waged on them because of their belief; this factor has made it possible for the different groups to discriminate because of not being accorded respect. Political Motivation Political reasons have facilitated religious discrimination in many ways, in some countries where overwhelming majorities are of a particular religion, the state has organized for the persecution of those perceived to hold a contrary opinion religiously (Vickers, 246). The politically motivated discrimination has been occasioned by mass killing and maiming analogous to genocide. This shows the apex of intolerance that has been reached given the disparities in the religious domain. Conclusion Even though the constitution do provide the right and freedom to worship, it is extremely difficult to enforce this on the individual basis, like in the administration of justice, fair and equal treatment before the law. Discrimination tendencies have been exercised in many occasions when it comes to the making decision on who to be considered. This is in the case of employment, provision of necessities and amenities. The teachings of the different religious groups are largely responsible for the intolerance and discrimination that is being witnessed across the religious divide. The divide is so inherent that the groups find themselves not tolerating one another. This has reached the level of certain groups taking responsibilities of crimes committed against humanity. For example, the Muslims believe that death occasioned by religious fight; jihad is justified, while this is grossly against the Christian teachings. Basic teachings as one above have contributed to the practice of discrimination of the groups. Works Cited Addison, Neil. Religious discrimination and hatred law. London: Routledge-Cavendish, 2007. Print. Hercock, Nazila. The challenge of religious discrimination at the dawn of the new millennium. Leiden: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 2003. Print. Vickers, Lucy. Religious freedom, religious discrimination and the workplace. Oxford: Hart, 2008. Print. Read More