Is it possible we are prejudiced, unfairly, in our views of people who practice other religions?

Question

Lets check the facts......

There are approximately 1,902,095,000 Muslims upon the earth. they can't ALL possibly be evil, terror-loving extremists who want to conquer the Christian World.

Approximately, 10% of the world's population practices Wicca or some form of Neo-Paganism. ALL these people cannot be evil, weird, attention getting, Satan worshipping, drug induced practioners.

33% of the world practices Christianity so they can't ALL be ignorant, intolerant, bullies who want to convert everyone to their viewpoint.

source for Muslim Population:
http://www.factbook.net/muslim_pop.php

There are multiple sources for statistics on Wicca population but any statistic is not going to be accurate since many practicioners do not make their faith public for fear of retaliation and discrimination. I have read some books that estimate the world population at a bit over 1.0%. I've included this following website as an example even though they only estimate it as less than 1%but they do admit that there is no way to know exactly how many Neo-Pagans there actually are.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/worldrel.htm

Sorry, I forgot to add that decimile point to the Wicca statistic. It is actually approximately 1.0%. Thanks for pointing that out Labgrrl. But my point wasn't really about how many practicioners adhere to various religions. My point was how many people will admit, (and hopefully do something to illuminate) their prejudices against other religions. i don't want to lose sight of that point.

for those that are interested, the source for Christianity statistics is:

http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html

Answer 1

Its true, many people judge others based on their own opinions about a particular lifestyle choice, including religion. I think the only way to truely be without prejudice is to approach each new person or group in your life with an open mind, and remember that they too may have misconceptions about you. All prejudice is unfair, and it is only through education and acceptance that we can limit its effects.

As a side note, I'd like to point out that, by definition, Wiccans don't believe in Satan. There are no Satan worshipping Wiccans. Also, your average person is not evil...so how can a whole religion be?

Its time to think deeply about every descriptive word you use, especially when describing religions!

Blessed Be.

Answer 2

It's not only possible, it's happening. Now.

Every time a priest, rabbi or imam who has designs on promotion and a need to impress the higher-ups opens his mouth, he is slighting Paganism and all its works. Never mind that he does not slander us directly, he is good at the indirect put-down, the insinuation and the imperceptible but no less powerful insult. And you see, whilst these people have a hierarchical structure within which to rise, they will continue to insult us - for their religions are absolutist, and their own personal power is dependent on the degree to which the pertinent religion has achieved its absolutist aims.

Let's be clear. As you say, there are a great many Christians, Muslims and Jews out there who are happy to keep themselves to themselves, be good citizens and talk with each on their own terms. Then again, many of them are not active in their religions - or rather, not so active that they come into contact with those ambitious clerics. If they do make contact, then it is likely that said clerics would poison the minds of the previously moderate. We have seen this especially in the Muslim world; but then such poisoning and "radicalisation" is further fuelled by poverty - whereby the radicalised person is so conditioned because he has nothing better to do.

Answer 3

"Approximately, 10% of the world's population practices Wicca or some form of Neo-Paganism. ALL these people cannot be evil, weird, attention getting, Satan worshipping, drug induced practioners. "

Could you please cite a sort for this statistic. I've been a Wiccan for 20 years and we've never even hit 1%.

For that matter, please cite a source for all these statstics.

Thanks.

Answer 4

In my experience much depends on the people involved. As a whole, in the United States and particularly in the SE part of the country, we have much work ahead of us to achieve understanding. Tolerance and willingness to at least recognize that we are biased (naturally) to our own way of belief will help.

I have directly experienced prejudice and have been vandalized. Still, I believe there is hope and belong to a group that is openly working toward understand amoung all beliefs.

We are a young people, in time we will grow and come to understand that prejudice is not the answer toward understanding and cooperation.

Answer 5

I think anyone with strong beliefs about their own religion has to bear some type of prejudice toward other religions. It's kind of like recognizing someone else as being like you or not like you. The people who are most not like you will make you feel uncomfortable because you know there are major differences there. The people who are most like you will make you feel most comfortable.

Answer 6

Sure.But there is no such thing as an unbiased wholly objective mind.Even atheists have presuppositions about life.Only those lobotomized or pickled in the brine of illuminism appear to have no prejudiced bones in their body.

Answer 7

Not all of them. But the popular religions nowadays believe they are right--with the same amount of proof. None!

This, in itself, causes the bias. By accepting one religion over another, you already assume that this one is right, and the other is wrong.

The other biases are just byproducts of the primary irrational thinking.

Answer 8

Yes I hate it when people lump all Christians, Atheist, Muslims, etc. together as if we all belive the same way as the others within our religion or group.

Sterotyping

Answer 9

Of course we're prejudiced about other religions or lack of religion.

As humans we think only our way is the right way to do anything.

Growing as a mature person allows us to see each other as individuals and not clones of each other.

Answer 10

Why can't those things be true? Each person is a separate individual. Each person has an equal chance of being something you don't like. So while we don't want those things to be true, there is no reason why they can't be.