Religious repression


  • Dependence on religious repression

Description

Religious persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual or a group of individuals as a response to their religious beliefs or affiliations or their lack thereof. The tendency of societies or groups within societies to alienate or repress different subcultures is a recurrent theme in human history. Moreover, because a person's religion frequently determines his or her sense of morality, worldview, self-image, attitudes towards others, and overall personal identity to a significant extent, religious differences can be significant cultural, personal, and social factors. Religious persecution may be triggered by religious or antireligious bigotry (when members of a dominant group denigrate religions other than their own or religion itself where the irreligious are the dominant group) or it may be triggered by the state when it views a particular religious group as a threat to its interests or security. At a societal level, the dehumanization of a particular religious group may readily lead to acts of violence or other forms of persecution. Religious persecution may be the result of societal and/or governmental regulation. Governmental regulation refers to the laws which the government imposes in order to regulate a religion, and societal regulation is discrimination against citizens because they adhere to one or more religions. In many countries, religious persecution has resulted in so much violence that it is considered a human rights problem.
Source: Wikipedia

Background

Religious repression has existed from very early history. The Spanish inquisition is the best known. The religious inquisition of the Edo period (1600-1868) was designed to eradicate Christianity throughout Japan. Under it, the population was screened for the presence of the religion's missionaries and believers. Persons discovered to be Christian were forced to apostatize, the recalcitrant were subjected to psychological and physical tortures until they recanted, and those who refused to abandon their faith were executed. One of the most horrifying examples in the 20th century was the Nazi treatment of the Jews.

Incidence

Religious repression exists overtly in countries where ideology is contrary to religion (for example, in communist countries) and less overtly in countries where one religion strongly predominates and, by influence over the law and other social and political institutions, excludes the place in society of others.


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