Religion and discrimination

One may take the view that society need to be tolerant to any religion so long as it complies with our laws and written constitution. Initially look, this statement seems as fit an answer as possible to the question of social limits to religious tolerance. Unofrtunately, if one were to think about the matter with more care, one would ultimately see that the statement might only belong to a greater answer. It is without a consideration of a few of the aspects which constitute cults, in addition to other elements, that a person would fail in designing a conclusive response to the question.

Specific followings or 'faiths' which declare to be religious beliefs that prevail today are, in truth, kinds of cults. Although many of the practices and elements common to cults are legal, they are, at best, suspect. The following should constitute the line of telerance society should not cross.

First of all, what distinguishes cults from religions is the way in which they operate.

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Cults are designed with a view of insulating the person from the rest of society. As soon as a member of a cult, in many cases, the individual is removed of a lot of (if not all) of their personal autonomy. The majority of decisions are made by the cult leader, access to the outdoors world is often denied, and all information about the outdoors world is misshaped by the leader. These kinds of operations must be excruciating by society.

Second, there should be no tolerance for 'faiths' that espouse any form of sacrifice, be it human or animal.

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Although historically, these practices were more or less widespread and accepted, there certainly is no place for them in contemporary times.

Last but not least, there ought to be a limit of spiritual tolerance with concerns to the way in which some display their beliefs. People in society should not be subject toa ny violence or limitation of liberty as an effect of somebody else's beliefs. There have actually been numerous illustrations of this in the past. People have actually obstructed abotion centers, have actually taken part in violent presentations concerning one concern or another, advertisement infinitum. These types of religiously-fuelled practices have no place in, and need to not be endured, in present day society.

For some, the state has been seen to usurp the place of God on occasion. The fervent belief held by Jehovah's Witnesses, in assence, acts as the basis of their religious dissent. There have been certain areas of the law, which historically, have given rise to the conflict between the Canadian legal system and Jahovah's Witnesses. As a result of this conflict, a myriad of implications have arisen. On one extreme, has been state persecutions of Witnesses. On the other extreme, has been instances of law reform. A consideration of the Jehovah's Witnesses' bases of dissent will follow.

To begin, the First and Second World Wars saw the Witnesses as refusing to be drafted into military service. This area of dissent arose out of their pacifist doctirne. They refused to be involved in military service, or in anything that could be tied in with the war effort.

Next, Witnesses reject all practices which allude to idolation. Their firm belief that only Jehovah be worshipped ahs led them to refuse singing the national anthem and saluting the Canadian Flag. Anything to do with pledging allegiance to anything or anyone other than Jehovah is strictly intolerable.

As well, Witnesses have had objections to education. They believe that only parents have the right to teach faith to their children. Moreover, the Witnesses have had the view that religious education does nothing but serve to indoctrinate children into the RomanCatholic faith. These beliefs have led them to oppose religious education in schools, and the celebration of such Christian holidays as Christmas and Easter.

Lastly, their literal stance towards to Bible has contributed to the Witnesses' opposition of such modern medical procedures as blood transfusions. Although their position is based solely upon two verses in the Bible, it does nothing to detract them from their adamant views on the subject.

As can be demonstrated, the Jehovah's Witnesses' rigid stance on certain legal issues has allowed them to continue on as 'conscientious objectors'. Many of their theological beliefs have contributed to numerous areas of dissent between themselves and the Canadian legal system.

Updated: Jul 06, 2022
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Religion and discrimination. (2016, Jun 18). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/religion-and-discrimination-essay

Religion and discrimination essay
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