Religious Intolerance Research Articles

An Idea of a Secular State through Its Traits in Context of India

Any state in this world is called a happy and a peaceful state if it is a secular state. Secular state is a community where differences of things like religion, sect, clan, caste, belief and class are not taken into consideration. Because these things underestimate the human existence and divide people in unacceptable ways if they are categorised. When people give less importance to such things or treat these things respectfully, they lead a better life full of peace, compassion, empathy, sympathy and understanding. A state where people happily reside together despite having different backgrounds can be called a secular state. Any state always operates at the hands of people through a social machinery calles politics. Politics can be responsible for upliftment as well as deterioration of a state. When it is used on the basis of religion and things like it, a state gets limited to certain aspects and experiences less flourishment. But a state where governments equal importance to all religions and other such things, it emerges as an ideal abode of humanity. The idea of a secular state and its traits can be understood through this article. India is lately experiencing religious intolerance and deterioration of human and moral values. There have been a significant rise in instances involving communal violence, inhuman activities and other such things done on the basis of caste, class and religion. So it is very much mandatory to throw light on the idea of a secular state and get to know its traits.

Inclusivity-based intervention to enhance religious tolerance among junior high school students

This community service program is inspired by indications or trends of religious intolerance among students in Indonesia. We designed this community service as a preventive intervention to enhance the understanding and levels of religious tolerance among junior high school students. The intervention emphasizes the importance of nationalism towards the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (Indonesian: Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia/NKRI) and religious moderation as enhancing factors of religious tolerance. Fifty-eight students of SMPN 10 Kota Malang participated in the pre-test and post-test. Data analysis built upon paired sample t-tests with bootstrapping. The results indicated that, first, general knowledge scores regarding religious tolerance (e.g., the meaning or definition of religious tolerance, positive impacts of religious tolerance) and specific knowledge about forms of religious tolerance were significantly higher at the post-test stage compared to the pre-test. Secondly, the intervention proved effective in enhancing religious tolerance, particularly in terms of interreligious respect and politics, as their scores at the post-test stage were significantly higher compared to the pre-test. The third finding showed that participants positively evaluated the community service activities in terms of their objectives, implementation, and outcomes. Participants also perceived the community service activities as beneficial in fulfilling their need for a better understanding of religious tolerance. Overall, the empirical findings in this community service program imply that inclusivity in society plays a crucial role in enhancing religious tolerance among junior high school students.

Avoidant Pedagogy: Swiss and Israeli Teachers’ Handling of Religiously Offensive Remarks in Class

The study examines teachers' positions when presented with a vignette regarding religiously offensive remarks. In-depth interviews were conducted with six Swiss and six Israeli female elementary school teachers. The findings demonstrated that teachers in both countries fluctuated between inclination to say that all opinions were acceptable, on the one hand, and drawing a line in the sand against religious intolerance, on the other. Only three teachers said that they would be clear that the remark in the vignette is prohibited. Teachers' dilemmas in the two countries were similar as were the strategies they chose. Teachers tended to flatten and oversimplify the discourse, considered students' subjective experience as indisputable, and avoided tackling prejudiced comments directly. Many teachers missed an opportunity to expose the power relations in society and to help develop students' critical thinking skills. Teachers' disbelief of students' remarks implies that many do not understand the way racism works or their role in preventing religious intolerance from an early age.

Общественно-политические установки молодого поколения дагестанцев: через призму исламского вероучения (по результатам социологического опроса)

At the initial stage of the religious revival, the activity of confessional institutions was somewhat passive, but now it is being intensified, which is expressed in the expansion of the space of influence of religious figures, the orientation of the population to simultaneously receive religious and secular education, and the introduction of a large layer of the population with religious knowledge. The article puts forward the hypothesis about the increasing role of traditional faiths and religious institutions in the social processes of modern Russian society. Consequently, the study of the religious component, in this context of the Islamic factor, from the standpoint of forecasting and assessing its role in modern Dagestan society, acquires special significance, because it will allow us to outline the trajectory of development of state-confessional relations, develop effective religious policies and provisions that do not violate the secular nature of the state devices of Russia. The perception and assessment of Islamic teachings in the socio-political life of the republic by the younger generation of Dagestanis is analyzed. The analysis shows the dominance in the mass consciousness of Dagestan youth that the position on the state structure is based on Islamic teachings; the author assumes that the younger generation lacks the understanding of the essence and specifics of government based on Muslim postulates. The surveyed Dagestan youth are consistent in their positions and in resolving controversial issues in a variety of social spheres (economic activity, land dispute between owners, family conflict, domestic violence, etc.), according to the Sharia court, which has acquired greater authority in everyday life population of Dagestan. In the mass consciousness of the younger generation of the republic, there is a priority of Muslim teaching and the designation of its special status, which is a destructive phenomenon, because it can create religious intolerance and destabilize Dagestan society. The younger generation of Dagestanis associates the function of religious teaching in public life with the dissemination of the fundamentals of religion and religious morality, spiritual and moral education and charity.

The Role of Kyai's Charismatic Leadership in Mitigating Religious Intolerance and Radicalism in Pesantren

This research discusses the critical role of kyai's charismatic leadership in mitigating religious intolerance and radicalism in pesantren. Kyai, as the primary leader in pesantren, has a significant influence in shaping the attitudes and thoughts of the santri. This research was conducted based on a field analysis study, followed by literature research incorporating various scientific arguments and information from relevant literature sources. This research was implemented at Pondok Pesantren Sabilurrosyad Gasek as a sample object, involving kyai, santri, and the surrounding community. Through his charisma and authority, the kyai can effectively convey the values of religious moderation to the santri. The approach taken by the kyai, which emphasizes the values of deliberation, balance, and tolerance, helps the santri understand religious teachings in a balanced manner and avoid radical attitudes. Islamic boarding schools also play a role in instilling religious moderation values through a well-structured religious education curriculum. Thus, the charismatic leadership of kyai is at the forefront of reducing religious intolerance and radicalism in pesantren, forming a generation of santri who understand religious teachings comprehensively and moderately, and contributing to creating an inclusive and peaceful society.

The Centrality of the Role of PAI Teachers in Multicultural Education Practices in Wonosobo Regency Public Schools

Indonesian society has various cultures, ethnicities, religions and different economic levels. Multicultural education and religious tolerance are very important amidst increasing religious intolerance in the educational environment. The role of PAI teachers is absolutely necessary to realize multicultural education in state schools. The research aims to reveal the centrality of the role of PAI teachers in the practice of multicultural education in Wonosobo Regency public schools. To achieve this goal, this research applies a qualitative approach to state schools in Wonosobo district. The findings of this research identify that PAI teachers have a central role in the practice of multicultural education within the scope of their school. These practices include: role modeling, habituation, and taking action against bullying and intolerant behavior at school. This research contributes to the promotion and practice of multicultural education in educational environments nationally and internationally. This study provides recommendations for a more in-depth investigation into how educators view and apply multicultural values in the scope of education to achieve a peaceful and harmonious life.

Civic Friendship, Capabilities and Affiliation

Abstract In The New Religious Intolerance, Martha Nussbaum addresses rising intolerance and fear of difference in contemporary societies. She suggests overcoming these issues through ethical consistency, equality, and the cultivation of sympathetic imagination. Nussbaum views this imaginative engagement as a form of civic friendship essential for societal transformation. However, we argue that her concept of civic friendship is problematic. First, Nussbaum's criteria do not suffice to define friendship. Second, this thin concept of civic friendship is unlikely to achieve the societal transformation Nussbaum envisions. We propose developing a more substantive account of civic friendship. This paper aims to create an Aristotelian account of civic friendship within a capabilitarian framework compatible with contemporary, plural societies.

Meninjau Kasus Intoleransi Beragama dan Gerakan Fundamentalisme Islam Indonesia dari Perspektif Moral Johann Gotlieb Fichte

Religious intolerance cases in Indonesia still occur frequently. This happens due to the minimal awareness of the society. Additionally, it is also caused by the ideology and influence of Islamic fundamentalist groups. Therefore, the author utilizes the thoughts of Johann Gotlieb Fichte to shape societal awareness and highlight the errors of Islamic fundamentalists. The author employs a qualitative-descriptive method, elaborating research findings in descriptive form with sources from qualitative data. Consequently, data collection is conducted through literature review. The author presents five aspects from the research findings. Firstly, the awareness of individuals to use their reason in practicing religion. Secondly, everyone needs to ensure the religious freedom of others due to moral demands. Thirdly, there is a need for encouragement that upholds equality rights. Fourthly, individuals practicing religion need to prioritize morality to achieve common goals. Fifthly, there is a necessity for a language of diversity to be collectively embraced.

Effects of Religious Intolerance among Muslims and Christians in Nasarawa State Nigeria and its Solutions

Effects of Religious Intolerance among Muslims and Christians in Nasarawa State Nigeria and its Solutions

Reexamining the Causes and Implications of Religious Intolerance on Social and Political Development in Nigeria

Reexamining the Causes and Implications of Religious Intolerance on Social and Political Development in Nigeria

Social Media and the Reshaping of Religious Identity in Youth

In recent years, much research has shed light on social structure and interpretation concerns that have highlighted problems with religious tolerance and intolerance. Social constructions have changed as a result of Internet-based connections and social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter Instagram, etc. which have reopened old discussions about paradigms of peace from a fresh viewpoint. To understand the correlations between social media usage and attitudes impacting religious tolerance and intolerance, this study evaluated previously published data regarding attitudes and stereotype modifications via research on the Muslim-Hindu interaction in Nepal. An online and offline survey is used to assess the research hypothesis about online platform usage frequency, relationship-bridging attitudes and actions, religion, life happiness, and social trust among youngsters. The findings revealed a statistically significant positive association between Facebook and YouTube usage frequency and views toward religious intolerance especially after being influenced by Indian Islamaphobic media as it is the neighboring country of Nepal, with an enhanced relationship bridging both online and off. Additionally, the paper aims to show the correlations between heavy social media users and individuals who cited social media as the cause of their eventual offline intolerance. The findings of this study are beneficial to individuals trying to comprehend and take part in peacemaking in a society that is continuously changing, always linked, and mediated by the Internet.

Communalism and Relevance to Nazrul

Kazi Nazrul Islam, renowned for his poetry and literary works, championed Hindu-Muslim unity and secularism in India. Born into poverty and influenced by revolutionary ideals, Nazrul's writings emphasized humanity over religious divisions. He critiqued both Hindu and Muslim extremism, promoting a universalistic approach to religion. His literature sought to bridge communal divides, advocating for the harmony of souls and the recognition of truth across faiths. Nazrul's legacy of secularism remains profoundly relevant today, offering guidance in a world still grappling with religious intolerance and division. His efforts in fostering unity and challenging religious dogma remain relevant today as communal conflicts persist, highlighting his enduring legacy as a flow of harmony and social justice.

Educational Communication Based on Qur’ānic Religious Pluralism in Increasing Religious Moderation of Muslim Students in Indonesia

Religious intolerance is relatively high among students, affecting 30% to 50%. In this context, alternative learning models are offered and tested to counter student prejudice and religious intolerance. Therefore, this research aimed to provide an educational communication model based on Qur’ānic Religious Pluralism as a preventive solution to increasing religious moderation of Muslim students. A qualitative approach was used to draft the model, and in-depth interviews were conducted with students having the highest and lowest religious moderation scores. The quantitative approach used a quasi-experimental method to measure the effectiveness of the model and the analysis of the draft was achieved through Focus Group Discussion (FGD). Furthermore, quantitative data analysis used descriptive statistics as percentages (%). After eight interventions (8x100 minutes), the questionnaire was distributed and the profile of religious moderation was compared before and after the model trials (October and December 2023). Data was analyzed using comparative techniques between post and pre-test, specifically IBM SPSS Statistics 24 with Paired Samples. The results showed that the educational communication model based on Qur’ānic Religious Pluralism effectively prevented religious prejudice while increasing substantive moderation in Muslim students (t = 18.75 significant at alpha .01). Most respondents had negative religious prejudices but cultivated tolerant attitudes after college. In the context of the implication, an educational communication model based on Qur’ānic Religious Pluralism in IRE was highly recommended. However, future research must consider the causes of consistent negative religious prejudice among a few students, even though lectures were attended using a similar learning model.

Introduction: Border Politics and Refugee Narratives in Contemporary Literature

Refugeehood—whether triggered by religious intolerance, ethnic strife, political repression, war, or environmental factors—has been a constant throughout human history, but it was not until the twentieth century that refugees were endowed with legal status on an international level [...]

Interactive E-Modules for Enhancing Religious Education

Driven by the need for a suitable module to facilitate the teaching of Pendidikan Aswaja dan Ke-NU-an subject, we have developed an electronic module (e-module) based on Merdeka Belajar curriculum. This module aims to enhance comprehension, memory retention and empower students to take a more self-directed approach to learning. The aim of Pendidikan Aswaja dan Ke-NU-an as local content subject is to safeguard students from radicalism, extremism, fanaticism and religious intolerance. The research methodology employed in this study is Research and Development (RnD) utilizing the 4D development model comprising four stages: Define, Design, Develop and Disseminate. The e-module incorporates learning outcomes and objectives aligned with Merdeka Belajar curriculum, along with interactive video links connected to the online platform such as YouTube. The results from pilot testing of these interactive e-modules in two sample classes yielded a commendable score of 79%, categorizing it as “fit for use.” The module’s utilization by 67 students across both classes demonstrated significant competency development in knowledge acquisition, comprehension, critical thinking and prevention from radical and extremist viewpoints. This can be seen from affective and cognitive assessments at school. Furthermore, the module effectively addresses epistemological challenges within the field of Pendidikan Aswaja dan Ke-NU-an, aligning with the historical evolution of these disciplines and local educational needs.

Tracing the Evolution of Religious Intolerance: Lessons from the Past Three Centuries

This bibliographic academic paper unveils the intricate tapestry of global research on religious intolerance disclosure, navigating through 288 publications spanning the years 1860 to 2023 sourced from the Scopus database. Employing a dynamic fusion of bibliometrics, content analysis, and network approach methodologies, the study not only dissects the evolution of scholarly discourse on freedom of worship but also unravels hidden connections and themes within this nuanced domain. The findings illuminate the significance of freedom of worship disclosure, shedding light on its pivotal role in shaping diverse narratives, identifying limitations, and propelling future research endeavors. Through this multidimensional exploration, the paper contributes a fresh perspective to the dynamic dialogue surrounding religious intolerance.

From Politics of Islam to Terrorism: Discovering the Roots of Islamophobia in Indonesia

Islamophobia is an issue that has affected both minority and majority Muslim communities in many countries, including Indonesia. To gain a deeper understanding of Islamophobia in Indonesia, this study focuses on two of eight components of Islamophobia identified by Sabri Ciftci (2012), namely, Islam is perceived as a political ideology and is associated with violence. Through a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, including historical-comparative and survey, the authors explore how the Indonesian government has dealt with Islamophobia since the Old and New Order periods. This research also delves into how Islamophobia has impacted minority Christians and moderate Muslims during the Reform Era, where Islam is often associated with religious intolerance and terrorism. The results indicate that Islamophobia in Indonesia has three primary root causes linked to certain Islamic societal behaviour: political tensions between Islamic fundamentalists and nationalists regarding the state ideology, religious tensions between radical Muslims and Christians resulting in intolerance, and acts of terrorism using Islamic symbols. This research concludes Islamophobia in Indonesia has switched from the government to the community level, requiring the government policy to eliminate Islamophobia in a pluralistic society.

Факторы доверия и недоверия в общественном сознании молодого поколения дагестанцев религиозным институтам

The Islamic renaissance, the increased role of the confessional component in modern Dagestani so-ciety, the orientation towards religious postulates characteristic of Dagestani population and their introduction into public consciousness requires an analysis of the presence/absence of trust in reli-gious institutions. The realities indicate that the population adheres to the provisions of Islamic teachings in a personal model of behavior in various spheres (family, marriage, political, economic, ethical). The article analyzes the level of trust in spiritual institutions, in this context, the republican Muftiate, existing in the public consciousness of the younger generation of Dagestanis. Gender, age, and educational differences are shown in demonstrating trust in and distrust of the Muftiate. The empirical material obtained indicates the presence of a high level of trust in the Muftiate in the pub-lic consciousness of the Dagestani youth surveyed. Through the prism of attitudes towards religion, analytics states the difference in the attitudes of respondents by type of religiosity: an overwhelming majority of those who associate as convinced believers and believers demonstrate trust, unlike the sub-masses of waverers, non-believers and convinced non-believers. The “control question” on the basis of distrust of the republican Muftiate shows that the younger generation of Dagestanis consid-er the destructive role of this organization in religious life, the opposition of Dagestani Muslims, which contributed to the intra-Islamic split and groundless accusations of “undesirable persons of Wahhabism and Salafism” to be the main reason for its existence. The material confirming a high degree of trust in the religious institute among the young Dagestanis interviewed is a natural result of the Muftiate’s active efforts, which consist in the introduction of Islamic postulates into the mass consciousness. In particular, there is an active participation of Islamic clerics in the political and ed-ucational processes of contemporary Dagestani society. The activity of religious persons, the latent imposition of a model of relationships based on Muslim rules, may, firstly, destabilize Dagestani so-ciety, and secondly, form the principles of religious intolerance therein.

Basic Ecclesial Communities

Religious intolerance and blatant polarization along the lines of caste, colour, and racial differences are on the rise in India, a trend that has been compounded by the explicit religious nationalism of the incumbent ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In the face of this rising intolerance and polarization, a substantial number of Indians from different demographics have begun to envision and participate in people-centred initiatives to nurture religious and social harmony. The present article proposes that Basic Ecclesial Communities – a practical, resourceful, and sustainable means of fostering community and religious harmony through interfaith sharing, hospitality, and a welcoming mindset – represent an impactful contribution to this effort.

Pursuing Racial Order and Social Progress: Violence, Afrophobia and “Religious Racism” in Brazil

Abstract This article explores “religious racism,” or discrimination against devotees of African-derived religions in Brazil, as a broader pattern of structural racism rooted in racialized religious alterity, Afrophobia, and the epistemic divide between religion and nonreligion. The term religious racism has been proposed by some devotees and anti-racist activists to emphasize that Afro-Brazilian religions are uniquely targeted in ways other non-Christian religions are not. Unlike religious intolerance, the term religious racism explicitly connects discrimination against Afro-Brazilian religions to colonization, color or racial hierarchy, and anti-Black prejudice. This article clarifies the ideological groundings of religious racism that encourage Neo-Pentecostal extremists to pursue “order and progress,” as the national motto suggests, through physical violence.