Why is 'Religious Bigotry' accepted when Racial Bigotry is not?

Question

I live in the Central Valley of California where we have a large population of Fundamentalist Christians. This particular religion (as well as others) is bigoted and prejudiced against the religious beliefs of others.

The Dictionary defines Bigotry as: Stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own.

That is exactly the behavior I witness from this particular religion. I am also told, by people who were once in that church, that is the ideology they are taught.

So tell me, what makes Religious Bigotry OK in a country where Racial Bigotry is so reviled and repulsive?

Edit: Endora, I was a baby when my religion was foist upon me. I was a child with no critical thinking skills. Do you really think we choose our own religion? If so, why didn't I choose Buddhism, or Taoism, Mormonism, Atheism, etc., etc.

Answer 1

Religious bigotry is not OK, but it is tolerated because we are taught that religious ideas are sacred, they are not subject to the same judgment as other behaviors like racism. This kind of bigotry is a bad idea and bad ideas should be the subject of ridicule, whether religious or not.

Answer 2

The answer is really quite simple. The people that make and enforce the laws are the ones that are practicing that SAME bigotry. As a pagan in the Central Valley of California I have first hand experience with that, and it extends far FAR beyond the local level. It extends all the way up to every level of Govenrment, law enforcement and judicial systems.

It is the same phenomenon that took place in the Southern US where it took a few generations to weed out MOST of those that upheld the ideals of racial bigorty from influencial positions (although there are still a few pockets where it is still a problem). That is what they were taught for generations and it wasn't until it became to difficult to pass on that it lessened.

UNFORTUNATELY, because of the nature and influence of the religions that practice religious bigotry, the same will not be possible for this problem, and any effort to challenge that agenda will only land the person in MORE trouble than they may bargain for.

Answer 3

People are many times prejudice. Meaning that if one different colored person offended, then person is prejudiced against them & attack others the same color. Same in religions. People are many times prejudiced against people of the same religion & attack their Churches or homes, etc...

Hate crimes are committed against certain religions also. A perfect example of 'religious bigotry' is those self righteous religious who persecute the Church by burning their buildings & their homes in the name of their god.
Also on the news the other day I saw religious self righteous hackling (a ways back from) around a funeral of a respected soldier. Then they say that the Soldiers aren't listening to God & that this is because there are gays & lesbians are in America. That they don't read the bible. (This is self righteous behavior, Not Christ Righteousness. They are persecuting the family & friends of a fallen Soldier.)

Answer 4

I believe you answered your own question in part when you said that they are ignorant of other beliefs, but it is also because they choose not to find out why they disagree with it, they simply say it's wrong because it has a different label.

It is the uneducated that ruin things sometimes, but thank Goodness for our country that protects us from being religiously persecuted when trying to find as job. Otherwise I don't think I would mind what other people say to me regarding religion, I just kind of do my own thing.

Answer 5

This country does not have religious bigotry, because this country does not have a national religion. You are misusing the definition of bigotry. If christians were in power in the government, and forced everyone into christianity, and no other religious practice was tolerated, that would be bigotry. Simply professing your religious beliefs, which may be in opposition the the beliefs of someone else, is not called intolerance, it's called disagreeing. You're being ridiculous.

Answer 6

what you call religious bigotry is nothing more than the "tolerance doctrine" you so justly live by in California. Tolerance at all costs! Tolerance at all costs!

Jesus is intolerant. Christians follow Christ and proclaim what Jesus says because they know the truth (not tolerance)

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me." - John 14:6. Do you know who said that? Jesus said that. Sounds pretty intolerant doesn't it.

Answer 7

I see so many people saying "because you can change your religion, not your race". So, by that token, should I swap religions every time I swap company, so that I won't be subject to their intolerance and bigotry? Yes, I chose my religion. And I choose to believe that no one is "wrong" in their belief. I choose to respect you and your beliefs, and my religion backs me up on that. Funny how that is seen as "wrong".

I think you should start saying, "Goddess Bless" to all those bigots in your town. Really makes them look at you funny.

Answer 8

A religion is simply a collection of ideas. I judge ideas individually regardless of what arbitrary group of other ideas they happen to belong to. If we as a society make it taboo to criticize ideas how can we have civilized debates about anything? Some religious people believe that their religion has political implications. I could just hear the implications of such a taboo "How dare you criticize candidate [fill in candidate name]'s policy on [fill in political issue]! That is offensive to my religion!"

Answer 9

Nothing makes it ok. I am a moderate Christian. I do my best to be kind and respectful to people of all faiths/ no faith.

May I ask you if you think it is acceptable for some atheists to be prejudiced against believers? Is it okay for them to call all Christians uneducated idiots who deserve nothing but ridicule? That "religious bigotry" works 2 ways, you know.

Answer 10

Bigotry is never acceptable and it is especially heinous if it is practiced under the guise of religion. I can't imagine any God sanctioning that kind of behavior especially if we are ALL God's creatures.