Religious Tolerance - Essay Example

RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE s affiliations APRIL, 23 0 Introduction. The community andsocieties are faced with a number of changes and activities that occur in a number of behaviours that the human beings are portraying religiously and culturally. Religion has become an aspect that integrates majority of aspects. Religion is defined as that which provides central organizing principles around which individuals, societies and cultures build their lives and institutions. Due to this, people have the freedom to choose a number of religions existing in the divergent environment. But due to their varying beliefs in different religions, it makes them believe theirs is the only true belief. In contrast, what about the rest of the religions? Are they not serving the same God? The argument is that while individuals are able to accept other religious practices and beliefs are they able to tolerate other existing religions in the world? (Bradley, 1998). 2.0 Divergent Religions and People’s Tolerances. The recognition that other people’s religious traditions can just be a valid and intellectual system as our own requires that we have basic familiarity with other traditions; an openness of mind to be comfortable with the idea that it is possible for others to use different conceptual systems to organize the same experiences and aspirations. It is important to identify and recognize the causal sequence of the arguments that a particular system of faith may use to arrive at its own organizational principles. It is important also to recognize how different religions take in a number of activities. In an era when religious faith is again playing a vital role in our political and social arena, members need to carefully assess how members will deal with the variety of religions and tolerate divergence (Bradshaw, 2002). Awareness of religious diversity and the role religion should play in our lives are not new issues. The reasons for studying other peoples religions based on American context is based on ideals of the eighteenth century enlightenment thinkers. They wanted to bring out a profound transformation of society by moving away from the old social moves which often remained bound to aristocratic privilege and religious fanaticism, and found that America could be ideal society in which to bring such a vision to reality. American society was to be built and sustained by individuals who would pursue life, liberty and happiness dictated by rational choice and individual judgement. This is why new American managers remain committed to society’s development in the western world to this day yet they are able to keep religions out of the public sphere. The ideals of the founding fathers is the awareness of religions different from one’s own and tolerance for them is a rare virtue in any society at any given time. Religion is considered as a rational choice and judgement which Americans like to think as foundation of their society, a society built and sustained by immigrants; making any kind of awareness very essential. Other reasons for studying other people’s religions are the universal nature of human beings which outline the relationship between belief and practice and the resultant diversity of religious expressions. These are issues that have attracted the attention of scholars, philosophers, politicians and other rulers throughout the course of human history across cultures. One of the earliest expressions of the principle of tolerance in the ancient world can be found in the rock edits inscribed by Emperor Acheka. According to Ashoka, religious tolerance is beneficial for the harmonious functioning of the civil society. The second view of tolerance remains implicit in the spiritual approaches to religion. The universal aspect of religion is not unique to the Eastern traditions where it can be found in the hymns and writings of all regions, including Christian saints and Jewish mysteries as well the basis of religious sentiments (Crowling, 1993). To understand some religions is appropriate for one to understand the existing origins and practices for one to tolerate them. For the example, the history of Hinduism culture goes back into the second millennium where a number of Greek inhabitants were referred to have inhabitants of Hinduism. The religion emerged from a synthesis of different cultures that appeared during that period. Buddhism which started as a reform movement within the mainstream of Indian culture shares some basic outlooks on life with Hinduism but differs from Hinduism in some social belief system. It is more important to examine how the understanding of the world view of the tradition and exposure on religious attitude in this part of the world may have evolved through ages than one focusing on specific beliefs. Both religions believe in a number of supernatural beings which control the different aspects of life. It is then appropriate for individuals to understand that life is divergent, and each supernatural being is able to specialize and control its part (Lockes, 2011). For individuals to understand Chinese religion and, they need to understand some terms like syncretism, taoisism. The Chinese religion appears to have woven all three ideologies into a harmonious system where a religion a person identifies integrates all of these ideals into a well balanced compartment, thus syncretism. Chinese religion started with Shang dynasty which ruled Northern China. The Chinese religion was mainly based on the attention of improving human behaviours. The use of confusions is important for it recognizes the differences in the way religions are understood by different cultures. While Mericious makes judgement that motivates people to act in a certain way under way various circumstances, Mencious claims there is a natural human tendency for sympathetic response. This quality when enhanced, can promote Ren. Xunzi which is assessment of human nature, was much darker and pessimistic; he challenged the Mencian Vieu that human nature was inherently good, claiming that human nature has infinite capacity for violence, teaching and selfishness (Crowling, 1993). This is a variety of ancient Chinese social philosophy and world view that emerged during late Zhou dynasty and a generic label for a wide variety of Chinese popular religions. Zen is a name for traditional meditation practices. The theories of Yoga and Dhya were gradually incorporated into the religious systems of China and later emerged as a sectarian belief system. It emphasizes on intuitive enlightenment, it has some meditative practices that aspire to train the mind to rise and categorized thinking by rejecting all external distractions (Crowling, 1993). In Christianity, it emphasises on the faithful practice of the Mosaic laws; however, it betrayed an underlying tension. There has been a significant support for the view that at the end of history, non- Jewish or gentile nations will join the truly righteous and their cultures will turn out to be compatible with spirit of Judah. Social and intellectual atmosphere in Jerusalem incorporated difference in response to that central question as to how one should live accordance with the Torah laws. Jewish religious practice in Jerusalem is influenced by assimilation of local religious practices with the worship of Greek gods; religion and culture was deeply intertwined in the Hellenic world, acceptance of Greek culture which means acceptance of Greek worship patterns including worship of king’s emperor. Jewish faith in God’s redemption of mankind in future led to a hope for restoration of Davidistic kingdom under the leadership of the son of David (Lockes, 2011). The teaching of Jesus centred on the reign of God not only as a future hope but also as a present reality. His emphasis on reform focussed, on here and now instead of in the future. Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God as both a present and future reality in various ways: Teaching of parables, performing miracles as of presence of kingdom, proclaiming forgiveness of sins and new understanding of religion. The teaching of Christianity involves a number of aspects and beliefs that any individual needs to understand and appreciate and this will make them be tolerant (Crowling, 1993). Regarding Islam, Muhammad is the founding prophet. Muslims object to describing their religion as Muhammedanism as such a label has implications of worship of Mohammed which goes against the spirit of Islam. Instead, Muhammad is viewed as the last in the line of biblical prophet whose history goes back to Moses. Muslims consider the Quran to be the record of the final, perfect and revelation of divine design for mankind as revealed to Muhammad by God through angel Gabriel. It is very important that all individuals embrace and tolerate other religions, beliefs and practices. Majority of the religions like Christianity and Islam share a major key feature which is the belief in one God though the modes and names are only different. Historically, some of religions did originate from one source which later broke down into other sects. Other features of these religions which include use of symbols, Syncretism and sainthood are also representatives of such religions. It is then appropriate to identify some of these aspects either reading from them or visiting places of worships. These will enable everyone to be able to tolerate what is going on in such religions. The majority of cultures are sharing one major contribution, that is to enhance morality in the society as well as fight social injustices and this is something that individuals need to understand and appreciate (Lockes, 2011). In conclusion, it is evident that different cultures and religions need to be appreciated by members of each religion. Tolerance and acceptance of different religions needs to be emphasized. Communities will live in harmony if each religion is appreciated as it may lead to social, political and economic contributions in the society. If indeed religious tolerance is embraced, and the view of other people’s religious diversities made positive then harmony and development will be initiated in communities. References Bradley, N (1998.) Religions and dynamics: theory and practice. London: Routledge & Keegan, pp. 23-67. Bradshaw, C. (2002). A study of religions in the world. Journal of Experimental education. Vol. 70, pp. 179. Crowling, A (1993) religions and cultures in the world, Journal of the research in society. Vol. 2. No. 41 pages 3-45. Cox, D. (1999). How to build religious tolerance. Harvard business review, June, vol 3, pp. 145- 154. Lockes, J. (2011) A Letter Concerning Toleration retrieved from: http://jim.com/tolerati.htm. Read More