ipl-logo

Religious Zealots

635 Words3 Pages

Religious zealotry has been one of the most significant causes of violence in history. Obviously, religious zealotry in the contemporary age includes extremist Islamic terrorism, but other religions have suffered from extremist zealots as well. Christianity persecuted non-Christians for hundreds of years during the Inquisition. Even within a religion, zealots fight over their different ideologies. In the Muslim world, zealots among the Sunnis and Shiites use violence to express their differences. Similarly, Protestants and Catholics have a bloody history of violence in Christianity. Since both of these religions espouse peace toward others in their texts, why do religious zealots believe they can use violence against others who do not believe …show more content…

Unlike most practitioners of a religion, zealots believe that their interpretation of the religion is the only legitimate one. In addition, zealots are willing to go to extreme measures to impose their interpretation on others, whether within the faith or among believers in other religions. Zealots are even willing to use violence to enforce their beliefs and practices against those who resist. Zealots believe that others in their community, nation, and even the world must adhere to their beliefs and practices. The second line of inquiry that is necessary to answer this question must examine whether there are specific issues shared by zealots among the religions. If there are issues shared in common by zealots of different religions, an answer might be deduced about the cause of zealotry. Such a cause will be enlightening about the cause of zealotry assuming the religion itself is not the primary cause. Indeed, this issue now brings the inquirer to perhaps the most important question: Are there unique factors within the religion that cause zealotry? The answer to this question could be troubling given the fact that many people today in the secular, industrial world believe that religious tolerance is necessary. If one religion is singled out as inherently conducive to zealotry, it might actually face

Show More
Related

The Crusades Dbq Research Paper

196 Words | 1 Pages

This is relevant because people had lost their lives because they believed in certain religions. Document one states that “In Europe, crusaders sometimes turned their fury against jews, massacring entire communities.” This is interesting because When christians and muslims had gotten

Read More

Summary Of When Religion Becomes Lethal By Charles Kimball

548 Words | 3 Pages

When different political views and spiritual beliefs are put together, the consequences behind that mixture are often dire and it ultimately results to violence. He emphasizes the importance of learning the past as well as the most up-to-date events of these particular religions. Kimball does his best to explain why those types of problems tend to occur, but he also gives us insight as to how these problems can be corrected, which could lead to a better hope for the future. All it takes is people of good faith as well people of goodwill to come together to speak aloud against the fundamentalists.

Read More

Huston Smith's 'Point Of Departure'

268 Words | 2 Pages

In order to focus on the foundation of religions, locations and time of events are limited to the minimum. It “does not attept to give a rounded view of the religions considered.” (p.2) It tried to do reasonable justice to several perspectives instead of attempting to catalogue many types. When he decides which view to present, the guideline

Read More

Eboo Patel's Acts Of Faith

1348 Words | 6 Pages

Introduction: In the text by Eboo Patel “Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation,” Patel focuses on living in a diverse faction full of religious prejudice in a world full of materialistic outlooks. At the same time he intertwines his personal experiences and provides a remarkable account in which he says that growing up in America as a Muslim led him to discover the importance of cultural pluralism, the acceptance of all religions, and his huge account that all Muslims aren’t extremists. He believes in ethnocentrism; religions should be able to coexist without feeling that one religion is superior than the other. In a world where the forces that seek to divide us are strong, Patel thinks the meaning of pluralism is that the differences

Read More

George M. Marsden's Fundamentalism And American Culture

983 Words | 4 Pages

Perhaps, the most frightening aspect of this book is the ever-darkening depravity of American culture. Honestly, if a reader traces the opponents of fundamentalism through the work, they find a disturbing trend that explains why America is facing the problems she’s facing today. Slowly but surely, those who hold to fundamentalism are becoming fewer in number. Now, most well-educated people would not know what fundamentalism is or (more importantly) what it stands for. Small wonder America is going to Hell in a handbasket (pardon my

Read More

Compare And Contrast The Salem Witch Trials And The Persecution Of Muslims

936 Words | 4 Pages

Many of us might think that such barbarous acts such as the witch trials have long been forgotten on the practices of man, but such an assertion if believed would plainly ignore the reality of many events since the trials ended. Of the many events that have occurred one that is most recent to us would be the on going persecution and/or discrimination against people of the Islamic faith known more commonly as muslims. Now while these two instances may have many differences such as reasoning, methodology, are even varying in how much damage has been committed the persecution of muslims and the witch hunts share great similarities. Aforementioned similarities include attitudes of distrust when around the targeted group, the spreading of lies and

Read More

Polarization And Persecution In The Armenian Genocide

809 Words | 4 Pages

Persecution can be defined in this statement, “They often use euphemisms to cloak their intentions, such as referring to their goals as “ethnic cleansing,” “purification,” or “counter-terrorism.” They build armies, buy weapons, and train their troops and militias. They indoctrinate the populace with fear of the victim group. Leaders often claim that “if we don’t kill them, they will kill us. (The Ten Stages of Genocide, Gregory H. Stanton)”

Read More

Voltaire And Diderot Analysis

755 Words | 4 Pages

Religious Tolerance/Intolerance during the Age of Enlightenment Based On the Views of Voltaire and Diderot In history, religion was one of the factors that can unite or separate men. It has a way of creating principles perceived as moral or immoral depending on a religious group’s teachings. It is so powerful that it created wars, separated families, and set territorial boundaries. The Age of Enlightenment, which was a philosophical movement, was the time of religious reforms in Europe -- to end warfare associated with religious intolerance.

Read More

Theme Of Injustice In Letter From Birmingham Jail

829 Words | 4 Pages

Injustices in Birmingham While sitting in the Birmingham jail in 1963, Martin Luther King Jr., writes a powerful and emotional letter to the clergymen of Birmingham. In his letter, he responds to the harsh criticism and injustices he received for simply protesting peacefully without a permit. King states in his letter, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

Read More

Religion Clauses Dwells The Free Exercise Clause

882 Words | 4 Pages

The American population is becoming increasingly diverse in regards to religious beliefs. The rapid expansion has called to attention the rights we the people have been guaranteed in the Constitution. The Constitution of the United States ensures its citizens the freedom of religion, not freedom from religion, making it a necessity to balance First Amendment rights alongside individual jurisdiction. With diverse religious viewpoints, the United States has become substantially polarized in regards to religious boundaries. Composed of over 2,000 religions and approximately 400,000 churches, synagogues and mosques, it is imperative to create balance.

Read More

Summary Of Growing Christian Persecution In America

1814 Words | 8 Pages

Christian Persecution in the United States of America According to Dr. Carl S. Parnell’s article, “Growing Christian Persecution in America: Believe It or Not,” thousands of Christians all over the world have died for their beliefs in twentieth century; however, this anti-Christian ideology has quickly spread to the United States over the last five decades. Parnell goes on to say that the “seeds of persecution” present in the United States affect every part of American culture, and that Americans are failing to realize “religious freedom in America today pertains to every religion except Christianity.” The Reverend Billy Graham states in his “Prayer Letter to America,” that "Our society strives to avoid any possibility of offending anyone—except

Read More

Religion In Ernest Hemingway's Hills Like White Elephants

1204 Words | 5 Pages

“Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life” (Buddha). Throughout different time periods religion has impacted the society in which people live. Religion has and continues to dictate the rules citizens have to follow in all areas, especially social, educational, and political. Religion influences morals, values, and people’s identities. Many people turn to religion for not just spiritual answers, but for guidance and help in everyday life.

Read More

Conformity In William Golding's Lord Of The Flies

1009 Words | 5 Pages

Often times, mindless conformity leads to senseless violence that could have been avoided with just a little more thought. In order to justify hateful and exclusive acts, the actions of people in minorities are often taken

Read More

A Model Of Christian Charity Analysis

962 Words | 4 Pages

As they cannot afford to fail, then all measure to succeed are open and equally justified. If that means to police each other or to execute someone for the crime that they did. Working towards a common goal. And a common goal that they have the determination to achieve because failing means being the subject and reason for shame and embarrassment across the world for all Christians and even more, the all-powerful and unforgiving wrath of God himself.

Read More

Essay On Religious Freedom In America

1407 Words | 6 Pages

Over the past few years, anyone can tell you that religious importance in our country has become less, and less vital. Recent events like the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, New York, and the attacks on Paris, France, have made the freedom of religion harder and harder to come by. Having the free practice of religion has proved difficult. Christianity has suffered from these issues as the general acceptance of the religion has declined substantially in the few decades. A recent poll there was a sense of discrimination for the Islamic religion, as they have been responsible for the attacks, 8/10 Americans believe Christianity should be practiced freely, while only a mere 6/10 Americans think the Muslims should practice freely (Source #3).

Read More

More about Religious Zealots

Related Topics

Open Document