In 2013, a study taken by Open Doors, a group that works against Christian persecution worldwide, showed that the number of Christians killed for their faith had nearly doubled since 2012. The number of Christians killed in 2013 was 2,123, whereas the number in 2012 was 1,021. While religious persecution may not be as much of a threat in the United States, where religious freedom is celebrated, this persecution occurs around the world to many different groups – even ones considered a majority in the U.S. Persecution happens to many different religious groups worldwide – not just one in particular. In North Korea, Christians are treated horribly. They are not allowed to express their religion, or even own something as harmless as a Bible without severe consequences. In North Korea, “Being caught with a Bible is grounds for execution or a life-long political prison sentence. An estimated 50,000 to 70,000 Christians live in concentration camps, prisons, and prison-like circumstances under the regime of leader Kim Jong-Un” (Miller). Christians are living in awful circumstances and in some cases are being put to death, all for something as innocent as owning a Bible. In addition, Atheists are being persecuted in many areas in the world. Throughout the world, “Restrictions are many. IHEU figured that ‘in effect, you can be put to death for expressing Atheism in 13 countries’” (Bandow). Not following or identifying with a religion is something that cannot be controlled– yet in 13 countries, Atheists can lose their lives for choosing not to believe in any faith or spiritual deity. Murdering a human being for something beyond their control is not a humane thing to do. Sunni Muslims are persecuted against in many parts of the world as w... ... middle of paper ... ...edom – the freedom to celebrate their religion. Works Cited Bandow, Doug. "Doug Bandow: Religious Persecution Extends to Nonreligious." The Orange County Register. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2014. Bassey, Pamay. "4 Ways You Can End Racism, Religious Persecution." Dominion of New York. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2014. Heneghan, Tom. "About 100 Million Christians Persecuted around the World: Report." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 08 Jan. 2013. Web. 10 Feb. 2014 Lesley, Alison. "Religious Violence, Discrimination, Intolerance at an All-Time High in Some Countries." World Religion News. N.p., n.d. Web. Miller, Joshua R. "Christians Killed for Faith Nearly Doubled in 2013, Group Finds." Fox News.com. Fox News Channel, n.d. Web. Tatchell, Peter. "Iran's War on Sunni Muslims." Theguardian.com. Guardian News and Media, 16 Oct. 2008. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.
Kilman, Carrie. “One Nation, Many Gods.” Teaching Tolerance Fall 2007: n. p. Teaching Tolerance. Web. 10 Oct. 2011.
Kofi Annan, the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations and the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize winner, once said, “Our mission, therefore, is to confront ignorance with knowledge, bigotry with tolerance, and isolation with the outstretched hand of generosity. Racism can, will, and must be defeated (“Quotes.”)” Racism has existed since the dawn of time. It has been used as a method to keep strangers out of societies or to keep people in an inferior state. Racism is defined as, “The belief that some races of people are better than others (“Racism.”)” How should the citizens of the world stop the spread of racism? The answer is through the education of children. Parents and guardians must teach them one step at a time to not judge a book by its cover. The evaluation of two sources, the article, “Just Walk on By: Black men in Public Spaces” by Brent Staples and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s speech, “I Have a Dream,” can help citizens learn how the discriminated feel when they are discriminated against, and how to stop the spread of racism.
Sullivan, Andrew. “This Is a Religious War.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 6 Oct. 2001,
Since the beginning of Christian Fundamentalism there has been many interactions between religion and militancy. A well known activist group was established in America after the civil war called the Ku Klux Klan. They were a protestant led organization who engaged in violent acts such as lynching, murder, arson, cross burning, rape, arson, demolition of property and other horrendous crimes. This was all carried out against African Americans, Muslims, Jews and other ethnic minorities. They were openly Christian terrorist in their philosophy, basing their beliefs on a “religious foundation” in Christianity. (Al Khattar, Aref. M. 2003.) Their burnings and physical abuse that they caused were not only to frighten and warn their enemies but to also show their devotion and overall worship to Jesus Christ.
Lampman, Jane. Christian Science Monitor. “New scrutiny of role of religion in Bush’s Policies”. March 17, 2003.
"Center Update: Case Studies on Religion and Conflict." The Berkley Center. Georgetown University, n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2012.
Walker, Martin. "The Revenge of the Shia." JSTOR. JSTOR, Sept.-Oct. 2006. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. .
Lafraie, Najibullah (2009). Revolutionary Ideology and Islamic Militancy : The Iranian Revolution and Interpretations of the Quran. Tauris Academic Studies. Retrieved March 23, 2012, from Ebook Library.
Katz, Phyllis A. and Dalmas A. Taylor, eds. Eliminating Racism. New York: Plenum Press, 1988.
Persecution has been a round for sometime and can be traced historically from the time of Jesus to the present time. Early Christians were persecuted for their faith in the hands of the Jews. Many Christians have been persecuted in history for their allegiance to Christ and forced to denounce Christ and others have been persecuted for failing to follow the laws of the land. The act of persecution is on the basis of religion, gender, race, differing beliefs and sex orientation. Persecution is a cruel and inhumane act that should not be supported since people are tortured to death. In the crucible, people were persecuted because of alleged witchcraft.
In considering some episodes of anti-Catholicism, it should be noted that not all violence against Catholics been exclusively religiously motivated. In many cases, religious misunderstanding blended with nativism to bring about a toxic reaction to the United States’ Catholic newcomers. Consequently, anti-Catholic groups that included the Know-Nothing party, the American Protective Association, and the Ku Klux Klan espoused a form of bigotry both religious and racially/ethnically motivated.
Religious Fundamentalism is not a modern phenomenon, although, it has received a rise in the late twentieth century. It occurs differently in different parts of the world but arises in societies that are deeply troubled or going through a crisis (Heywood, 2012, p. 282). The rise in Religious Fundamentalism can be linked to the secularization thesis, which implies that victory of reason over religion follows modernization. Also, the moral protest of faiths such as Islam and Christianity can be linked to the rise of Religious Fundamentalism, as they protest the influence of corruption and pretence that infiltrate their beliefs from the spread of secularization (Heywood, 2012, p. 283). Religious Fundamentalists have followed a traditional political thought process, yet, have embraced a militant style of activity which often can turn violent (Heywood, 2012, p. 291).
Nelson, Jack. Is religion killing us?violence in the Bible and the Quran / Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer.. 2003 Print.
"The ACLU and Freedom of Religion and Belief." American Civil Liberties. (2013): n. page. Web. 2013.
“God wanted the Christians to win. My Cid and his men made the Moors run.” (Pg.167) According to the Christians, divine fate was the reason for their success in the destruction of the Muslim’s land. The sheer force of God was the reason defeat over the Muslims came so easily. The Christians believed that God backed them because no other religion was a ‘true’ religion. The cruelty towards those of other religions by Christians came from the idea that they had God on their side and were working in God’s name. The treatment of the Muslims was satisfactory for the Christians because they believed they were carrying out God’s work. They deserved all the riches that they were rewarded because they followed the one true God. Intolerance is the inability