Virtually every pagan I know that has made their religion public (or had someone find
out about it) has had to deal with some type of intolerance at one time or another. Of
course, we aren’t the only ones, many people who follow non-mainstream religions have
to deal with it. So do Atheists and Agnostics.
Of course, the fact that it’s common does not make it right. I personally feel that every
single person on this planet has the right to believe whatever they like. It is no one’s
business but their own. Hating someone because of their personal beliefs is like hating
someone because of their race.
Here’s some ideas on what to do about intolerance:
Start with yourself:
The best way for you to help fight intolerance is to make sure you aren’t guilty of it
yourself. I believe virtually everyone at one time or another is guilty of it. You get back
what you give, and if you expect people to be tolerant of your beliefs, you need to be
tolerant as well.
Education:
I used to not really understand why anyone would be intolerant. I couldn’t figure out why
anyone would care what another person believes. It has no effect on them.
Then, I realized that people hate others with religious beliefs that differ from their own for
the same reason some people hate people of races other than their own. People fear what
is different, and they fear the unknown. And what they fear, they hate. This is why I
believe education is so important. I think a good amount of the people that hate people of
other religions don’t really know anything about them and are just going on things they’ve
heard.
Someone might argue that this is not always true, as some religions actually teach that
anyone not believing in a certain deity will be punished. Christianity for example. I
know lots of Christians. Some of them will not even speak to me because of my beliefs.
And some have no problem with it. It all depends on the person and how they choose to
interpret the verses. If someone has a narrow focus and just looks at one part, it could be
interpreted as saying it is okay to hate someone of other religions. In order to do this, they
would have to ignore all the verses against hating other people. Some people do this and it does not matter you say to counter it. Write them off as idiots.
I have many friends who are Christians. They respect my beliefs, as I respect theirs. I do not impose my morals, values, or beliefs on them and they do not impose theirs on me.
On the same note, I also know people that hate me because I do not believe the same way they do. I do not regard them as representing their beliefs. Instead, I consider them
bigots. In my opinion, bigots are mentally ill, and therefore should be disregarded. It is illogical to hold an entire religious structure responsible for the actions of a few people that have psychological issues and use religion as a means for justifying them.
Harassment: If someone harasses you for your beliefs, do not tolerate it. Do not let one
incident slide. You are doing nothing wrong and no one has any right to bother you. If
they appear to have misconceptions about your beliefs and practices (such as animal
sacrifice and other nonsense) , educate them. If they refuse to listen, or if after you clear
these misconceptions, they continue to put down your beliefs, you have 2 choices. You
can agree to stay off the subject, or you can stay away from them entirely. You may end
up choosing the latter if they refuse to stay off the subject. It can be a difficult decision,
particularly if the person is a relative, or worse, an inlaw.
Personally, I feel that if a person persistently makes insulting comments about my
religious beliefs despite the fact that I am not forcing them on anyone or even discussing
them, then relative or not, I do not need that type of negative association. It was not
difficult for me because I am not really all that close to my family. Some people are and
can’t bring themselves to do something like that, so it is really an individual choice.
If someone refuses to leave you alone, depending on the nature of the problem, you may want to contact
you local law enforcement agency. You should also report any act of violence or the threat of any.
If the harrassment is by phone, call the phone company and report it. If it is online or by email, contact
the person's ISP
One final word: if you are being harassed in your school or workplace, report it
immediately. You do not have to accept harassment. If nothing is done to resolve the
problem, contact an attorney.
Discrimination: If you feel at any time that you have been discriminated against because
of your religion, you should contact an attorney immediately. Do not be afraid to stand up
for your own rights. You should also contact the Alternative
Religions Education Network. They may be able to refer you to other organizations
that can help.
By standing up for your rights, you will not only be doing yourself a favor. You could
potentially stop it from happening to another person as well.
A word of caution: Please make absolutely certain that you were discriminated against
specifically because of your religion before you take action to that effect. If you didn’t
get a job because you weren’t qualified, if your spouse got custody of your children
because you are a substance abuser, if you were fired from your job for poor performance,
DO NOT attempt to use accusations of religious discrimination as means to correct the
situation. If you have any of the above problems, then you need to concentrate on
correcting them and possibly seek some type of rehabilitation. There are people that have
real problems. Don’t waste someone’s time when it could better spent helping someone
that actually has been discriminated against.
Please take intolerance seriously. Through the centuries, religious intolerance has been responsible for the torture and death of innocent men, women and children. And it is still at work today. Please do your part to help end it.
Links
AREN
Coalition For Religious Freedom
Parents, Peers, and Other People: Dealing with Those of Not-Quite-Like Mind
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Tarot Readings By Starbreeze
