Racism means the expression of hatred towards, or the desire to discriminate against, persons of a
specific race, usually a minority race.
Sexism means the expression of hatred towards, or the desire to discriminate against, persons of a specific
gender, usually female or intersexual.
Homophobia now means the
expression of hatred towards, or
the desire to discriminate against, persons of a specific sexual orientation, usually homosexual or bisexual. (It used to mean fear of
homosexuals; some still hold to this definition.)
We feel that the English language needs a new word. We suggest:
"Religism", meaning "the expression of hatred
towards, or discrimination against, persons
of a specific religion affiliation, usually a minority faith."
We
first suggested the word "Relism" but a visitor to this
web
site noted that it would be too easily confused with "realism."
Unfortunately, this word has not become part of the English language as yet.
Google.com only found 121 hits for "religism." Unfortunately, these have many
conflicting meanings to various individuals and groups.
Until English speaking people reach a consensus on a new term we can always
use "religious intolerance."
In this website:
The meaning of the term "religious tolerance" does not
involve:
Believing that all sets of religious beliefs are equally true.
Again, religious differ greatly. Many
people consider their own beliefs to be true and others to be at least partly false.
Believing that all faiths are equally beneficial and equally harmless to society.
In our opinion, some religions are less beneficial to society society
because they teach racism, sexism, homophobia, religism, etc.
Believing that all religious groups are equally beneficial and equally harmless
to their followers. Some religions expect their members to follow practices that
are hazardous to their mental and physical health, and may shorten their lives
-- avoid medical assistance, spouse beating, child beating, etc.
Refraining from criticizing religious practices of others. Some
religions teach their followers to actively discriminate on the basis of race, gender,
sexual orientation, nationality, etc. Such practices, in our opinion, should be
open to analysis and criticism.
Refraining from talking about your beliefs to others. One
should feel free to discuss beliefs of all types. Of course, if the other person indicates that they don't want to talk about religion, then continued proselytizing
can easily degenerate into harassment.
Ignoring your own religious ideas. It is not necessary, nor is it
desirable, for an individual to suppress their own religious beliefs, in order to accept
the right of another person to follow a different religion. It is not necessary to
accept
others' beliefs as valid. A tolerant person merely extends to all people a
fundamental human right: freedom of religious belief.
In this website:
The meaning of the term "religious tolerance" does
involve:
Accepting that followers of various religions consider their own beliefs to be
true. Most people believe that their religious beliefs are true, perhaps even
absolutely true.
Allowing others to hold religious beliefs that are different from yours.
No
society is truly free unless there is freedom of religious association,
speech and belief for everyone.
Allowing others to freely change their religion, or denomination or beliefs.
Freedom
of religion includes the right to change one's faith.
Allowing others to practice their religious faith, within reasonable limits.
Religion is more than belief; it involves practices as well.
Refusing to discriminate in employment, accommodation etc. on religious grounds.
People who follow minority religions have the right to be treated fairly in the
workplace and society generally.
Making a reasonable effort to accommodate other people's religious needs.
For example:
Allowing an employee to work overtime in order to take off a
religious festival or holy day that is significant to them.
Scheduling meetings so that they do not conflict with
common holy days.
You, of course, may wish to define religious tolerance differently.
In the field of religion, there is often no consensus on the definitions of
terms. We have seen as many as 18 definition for the term "witch"
for example.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary's (1960) defines religious
toleration as, in part:
"recognition of right of private judgment in religious matters,
liberty to uphold one's religious opinions and forms of worship, or
to enjoy all social privileges etc. without regard to religious differences."
This definition views religious toleration as a human rights issue. A person
is tolerant
when they respect the right of others to hold different religious beliefs. A person might
believe that their own faith is the only valid religion - the one fully approved of
and created by a particular God. They might consider all other religions as profoundly evil. Yet, they
can still be religious tolerant towards others if they recognize that all individuals and
religious groups have the basic human right of religious liberty - to freely follow their
faith's beliefs and practices.
Apologetics Index: This is an Evangelical Christian
counter-cult web site.
Webmaster Anton Hein defines religious tolerance as:
"Acknowledging and supporting that individuals have the
right and freedom to their own beliefs and related legitimate
practices, without necessarily validating those beliefs or practices."
1
The Free Dictionary discusses religious tolerance:
"Historically, religious tolerance has been the most important aspect of
tolerance, since religions tend to be intolerant of each other, and
religious intolerance has led to innumerable wars, purges and other
atrocities. The philosophers and writers of the enlightenment -- especially
Voltaire and Lessing -- promoted religious tolerance, and their
influence is strongly felt in Western society. Nonetheless, the lack of
religious tolerance causes problems in many regions of the world today.
We are religiously tolerant when we give others the freedom to do things and believe
things, even though we feel that they are wrong! To some people, this is not
easy. Some feel that their religion is the only true faith, and that to oppress
followers of another religion is to promote God's will in society. We
support their right to believe this. But we
oppose them if they want to take action to
oppress others. That path leads to the killing fields of Bosnia- Herzegovina,
massacres in East Timor, the gas chambers of Nazi Germany and numerous other
horrors.
The difference between religious tolerance and religious validation:
People in religiously diverse cultures like the United States and Canada
have different, conflicting religious beliefs and practices. In order to
make society work, we do not all have to agree on religious matters; we do
not have to accept all religious beliefs as valid. But, in the opinion of
the OCRT -- the group that publishes this web site -- it is important that
we respect the rights of other individuals and groups to hold different
beliefs. Unless we respect the right of others to follow their own faith
group, there is no reason why we should expect them to reciprocate by
respecting our freedom to be different from them. The Supreme Court of
Canada expressed this well in a 2002 ruling concerning the access to
books by students in the Surrey School District in Surrey, British
Columbia:
"...the demand for tolerance cannot be interpreted as the demand
to approve of another person's beliefs or practices. When we ask people
to be tolerant of others, we do not ask them to abandon their personal
convictions. We merely ask them to respect the rights, values and ways
of being of those who may not share those convictions. The belief that
others are entitled to equal respect depends, not on the belief that
their values are right, but on the belief that they have a claim to
equal respect regardless of whether they are right. Learning about
tolerance is therefore learning that other people's entitlement to
respect from us does not depend on whether their views accord with our
own. Children cannot learn this unless they are exposed to views that
differ from those they are taught at home."
