Religion and discrimination Essay

One might take hold the slew that society should be tolerant to any religion so long as it con gets to our laws and written constitution. At first glance, this statement get holdms as fit an rejoinder as possible to the question of societal limits to phantasmal tolerance. Unofrtunately, if one were to consider the matter with more caution, one would eventually see that the statement could only be part of a greater answer. It is with issue a regard of some of the elements which stimulate cults, as well as other(a) factors, that one would falter in devising a definitive answer to the question.Certain followings or faiths which claim to be religions that are usual immediately are, in actuality, forms of cults. Although most of the practices and elements common to cults are lawful, they are, at best, suspect. The following should constitute the line of telerance society should not cross.Firstly, what distinguishes cults from religions is the manner in which they operate. Cults are knowing with a view of insulating the individual from the rest of society. Once a constituent of a cult, in most cases, the individual is removed of most (if not all) of their personal autonomy. Most decisions are made by the cult leader, rise to power to the outback(a) world is often denied, and all information about the outside world is distorted by the leader. These types of operations should be intolerable by society.Second, on that point should be no tolerance for religions that espouse any form of sacrifice, be it human or animal. Although historically, these practices were more or less prevalent and accepted, there certainly is no place for them in modern times.Lastly, there should be a limit of religious tolerance with regards to the manner in which some display their beliefs. Individuals in society should not be drug-addicted toa ny violence or restriction of freedom as a essence of someone elses beliefs. There accommodate been numerous illustrations of this in the past. Individuals cast off blocked abotion clinics, have participated in violent demonstrations concerning one issue or another, ad infinitum. These types of religiously-fuel take practices have no place in, and should not betolerated, in present day society.For some, the state has been seen to usurp the place of God on occasion. The fervent belief held by Jehovahs Witnesses, in assence, acts as the basis of their religious dissent. There have been certain areas of the law, which historically, have presumptuousness rise to the conflict between the Canadian legal system and Jahovahs 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 Jehovahs Witnesses bases of dissent will follow.To begin, the First and Second domain of a function 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 have-to doe with 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 committal to anything or anyone other than Jehovah is strictly intolerable.As well, Witnesses have had objections to education. They retrieve 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 med ical procedures as blood transfusions. Although their position is based entirely upon two verses in the Bible, it does nothing to detract them from their adamant views on the subject.As can be demonstrated, the Jehovahs Witnesses rigid stance on certainlegal issues has allowed them to continue on as conscientious objectors. many another(prenominal) of their theological beliefs have contributed to numerous areas of dissent between themselves and the Canadian legal system.