Religious Intolerance Outside North America, Research Paper Example

Introduction

Every society and population group sincerely believes that its traditions, cultures, and norms are the best. These “best” perceptions are necessary and important to the extent, which allows societies to protect their cultural traditions from external influences. Unfortunately, this desire to protect cultural uniqueness usually leads to the development of intolerance toward cultural norms of other population groups. In other words, when societies and cultural groups see their culture as the best, they tend to reject and judge the norms and standards, which other population groups follow. In this context, intolerance stands out as the concept that is important for one’s understanding of culture; in society, intolerance covers a broad range of issues, including religious intolerance, racial intolerance, and sexual intolerance (namely, gay intolerance).

Intolerance can be fairly regarded as the concept important for one’s understanding of culture; religious intolerance is just one out of many forms of intolerance, which many societies see as normal. Intolerance can be broadly defined as “unwillingness or refusal to accept people who are different in their views, beliefs, or lifestyles” (Robinson) Religious intolerance shows as the form of rejecting religious beliefs and views that are different from those followed by a given group of people. Religious intolerance is so widely spread, that almost every population or national group is involved in some or other form of religious persecution: the Taliban government was well-known for mass murders of Muslims for deviation from worship and dress codes; Burma imposed severe punishments on the Buddhist monks, who sought to promote human rights; in Iran, Baha’i Faith adherents are imprisoned or denied in their right to assemble, etc. (Robinson). These inappropriate and often inhumane attitudes toward religion are further supplemented by sexual intolerance (namely, gay intolerance).

Gay intolerance has already turned into a distinctive feature of westernized societies. Although gay rights are being widely promoted and protected, a gay individual often has to live a life of an outcast. The present day society is so intolerant to gays that even officials publicly express their negative attitudes toward people with a different sexual orientation: in 2006, Maryland Gov. Robert l. Ehrlich fired one of his Metro transit authority appointees for “referring to gay people as sexual deviants on a cable television show” (Sun & Mosk). Gays often face a wall of cultural misunderstanding, and may not be given enough opportunities for social growth, but their situation seems a way better than of those of a different race.

Although racism seems to be an outdated cultural concept, racial intolerance continues to dominate the minds and hearts of millions. The recent case of Edgar Ray Killen having murdered three civil rights workers in 1964 confirms that intolerance in general, and religious intolerance, in particular, is still the dominant feature of today’s culture. “Civil rights activists see disturbing evidence of America’s uglier civil rights history repeating itself, citing what had been an intolerance with roots in the South now asserting itself on a national scale” (Ross). Unfortunately, even with the growing scale of civil rights movements, and with the growing number of civil rights laws, intolerance remains a crucial aspect in the human understanding of culture. Very often, these provisions and laws look like an effective cover for the intolerance processes in society.

Conclusion

Intolerance stands out as the concept critical for one’s understanding of culture; in society, intolerance covers a broad range of issues, including religious intolerance, racial intolerance, and sexual (namely, gay) intolerance.  Every society and every culture strives to protect its norms and standards from external influence. Every society and every culture tends to view its norms and standards as the best. These cultural views and strivings often cross reasonable boundaries, turning into a form of intolerance, which does not accept different views and standards, and which results in severe restrictions, persecutions, and discrimination against those, who promote different cultural beliefs.

Works Cited

Robinson, B.A. “Religious Intolerance Outside North America.” 2009. Religious Tolerance. 14 August 2009. http://www.religioustolerance.org/relintol3.htm

Ross, M.E. “For Some Observers, History Repeating Itself.” 2005. MSNBC. 14 August 2009. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8077765/

Sun, L.H. and M. Mosk. “Metro Board Member Fired for Comment on Gays.” 2006. The Washington Post. 14 August 2009. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/15/AR2006061502097.html