Religious Intolerance Poses a

Threat to the Future

By Nick Buczynski

http://zelalemkibret.w
ordpress.com/page/2
/
 My Ideas and goals for this project

 For this semester long project, I chose the topic of religious

intolerance. This is a topic I feel very strongly about, as I hear
about it everyday. I have yet to decide on what I want to do in
regards of my final product, but these following slides will
express my ideas on thoughts, as well as facts, on the topic at
hand. Updates at Religioustoleranceblog.wordpress.com.
 Religious Intolerance- When a group refuses to
tolerate practices, persons, or beliefs on religious grounds.

Religious intolerance poses a threat to the future and the only

way to prevent catastrophe is through informed
communication and education of…
 The similarities and differences of the World’s most common
religions.
 The causes of religious intolerance
 The effects of religious intolerance

http://www.shirtaday.com/shir
t/coexist/458
 Similarities and Differences Between the
World’s Most Common Religions
Points I will focus on within the religions of Christianity,
Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism:
 Beliefs in Deities (Monotheistic and Polytheistic)
 Religious Texts and Beliefs
 The Fundamentals and Formation

http://susiesbigadventure.blogsp
ot.com/2013/01/when-religious-
debate-becomes-capital.html
 Christianity
 “Monotheistic: Belief in one God”(Robinson 1)
 “Religious text is the Bible”(Robinson 1)
 “The follow a set of guidelines call The Ten
Commandment.”(Robinson 1)
 “They Follow the Teachings of Yeshua of Nazareth.
A.K.A. Jesus”(Robinson 1)
 “The Believe Jesus is the son of God.”(Robinson 1)

http://shinto4life.wikispaces.com/Difference+between+Shinto+and+Ch
ristianity
 Islam
 “Monotheistic: Belief in one god” (Robinson 1)
 “The holy text is called the Qur’an” (Robinson 1)
 “They follow a set of guidelines called the
Six Pillars of Islam” (Robinson 1)
 “They follow the teachings of the Prophet
Muhammed” (Robinson 1)
 “The believe Jesus is only a prophet” (Robinson 1)

http://www.zamzamacademy.com/2
010/09/dimensions-of-islam/
 Hinduism
 “Henotheistic: Belief that gods and goddesses
are a figure of a single God.” (Robinson 1)
 “Religious texts are called the Vedas” (Robinson 1)
 “There is no system of morality, their God(s)
trust their followers to do the right thing.” (Robinson 1)
 “There is no single founder, originated around
4000 B.C.” (Robinson 1)
 “Hinduism has no affiliation with Jesus.” (Robinson 1)
 “Believers in Reincarnation”(Robinson 1)

http://www.santabanta.com/photo
s/hindu-symbols/9122010.htm
Buddhism
 “Theological Belief is Rational
Spirituality”(Robinson 1)
 “They Follow the Five
Precepts, similar to the Ten
Commandments”(Robinson 1)
 “The founder is Siddhartha
Guatama, around 400
B.C.”(Robinson 1)
 “Strong believers in
reincarnation”(Robinson 1)
http://background-
pictures.feedio.net/gautam-buddha-quotes-
background-wallpaper-wallpapers-
hungama/2.bp.blogspot.com
 Judaism
 “Monotheistic: Belief in one God.”(Robinson 1)
 “The Religious text is called the Torah”(Robinson 1)
 “Their version of the Ten Commandments are
called Aseret ha-Dibrot”(Robinson 1)
 “Was founded around 2000 years before Christ,
no official founder.”(Robinson 1)
 “The believe Jesus, who was born Jewish, to be
the Messiah, not the son of God.” (Robinson 1)
 Causes of Intolerance
 Religious Intolerance has many causes, some more
prominent than others.
 The causes of intolerance that are most affiliated in
today’s world are:
 Misinterpretation: Having inaccurate assumptions.
 Lack of Education: Not having correct or enough
education on religion. Could also have obtained wrong
information.
 Refusal: Not willing to accept the truth.
 Misinterpretation
 Misinterpretation is a huge cause leading up to
religious intolerance for many reasons:
 “False assumption of a belief(s) will result in a
possible insult to those who are being
assumed.”(Colombage 1).
 “Stating that ALL of the people of the same
religion may lead for one to believe you are
ignorant.”(Wenke 1).
 “Ignorance almost always leads to
intolerance.”(Wenke 1)
http://opencanada.org/features/the-
think-tank/video/discussing-freedom-of-
religion-or-belief/
 Lack of Education
 “Religious Education is a common practice
worldwide.”(Jakarta 1).
 “The education being taught around the world
are usually based around the local beliefs.” (Jakarta 1).
 “If one is not educated on the beliefs of at least
the world’s most common religions, they may
later lead to their misinterpretation and
assumption”(Carey 1)

http://revelationtrilogy.com/
 Refusal
 Refusal is a major Cause of Religious Intolerance.
 “When people refuse to believe that all religions are
equal, the situation starts to heat up.” (Robinson 1)
 “If both sides of a conflict refuse to resolve a
situation, such as persecution, the situation cannot be
resolved easily.”(Wenke 1)
 Think about if someone calls someone else name, the
antagonist usually refuses to take back what he said.

http://www.imsmigration.com.au
/content/Visa_refusal
 Effects of Intolerance
 There are many events in this world that are a
result of religious intolerance. However, some of
these events had more of an impact than others.
 The Crusades: An early 2nd Millennia series of wars
that destroyed the middle east and resulted in the deaths
of millions.
 The Spanish Inquisition : A “Purging” of other
religions by the Catholics that resulted in many conflicts
over the period of 350 years.
 The Holocaust: A brutal genocide of the Jewish
people that was lead by the Nazi Fuhrer Adolf Hitler.

http://www.pewforum.org/executive-summary-
islam-and-christianity-in-sub-saharan-africa.aspx
 The Crusades
 “A series of wars that occurred in the middle east from
years 1095-1291 A.D.”(Robinson 1)
 “The main participants in the Crusades were The
Christians, the Muslims.” (Robinson 1).
 “Originally was a plan to retake Jerusalem but it later
escalated into a 200 year war.” (Robinson 1).
 “Anywhere from 1,000,000 to 3,000,000 people died
during the crusades.”(Robinson 1).

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax
/2012/03/22/behind-every-theological-
crusader-theres-usually-a-story/
 The Spanish Inquisition
 Occurred from 1481-1834 A.D.
 “Ordered by King Ferdinand and Queen
Isabella to purge Spain of the unwanted.
 The Unwanted was anyone who weren’t
Roman Catholic.”(Robinson 1).
 “Torture was avidly used, many torture
victims died.”(Robinson 1)
 “With the skilled Muslim and Jewish
artisans and merchants exiled from Spain,
Spain’s economy collapsed.”(Robinson 1).
http://gospain.about.com/od/spani
sharchitecture/ss/top_cathedrals.ht
m
 The Holocaust
 Lasted from 1938-1945 A.D.
 “Led by the Nazis of
Germany, more specifically
Adolf Hitler.” (Robinson 1).
 “Jewish people were put into
concentration camps, most
died.”(Robinson 1).
 “6,000,000 Jews died, that’s
two-thirds of the entire
Jewish Population”(Robinson 1).
 Conclusion
 The only way to prevent religious intolerance from
destroying the future is for the education and
informed communication of:
 Similarities and differences of all religions
 The causes of intolerance
 The catastrophes that will occur if not prevented.
 Works Cited
Carey, Greg. “Martyrdom Complex.” N.p. 8 April 2013.

Colombage, Dinouk. “Religious Intolerance on the Rise in Asia.” N.p.

16 November 2012.
Jakarta Post, The. “The Effects of Inter-Religious Intolerance.” N.p.
25 June 2012.
Robinson, B.A. “Hinduism, the World’s Third Largest Religion.” N.p.
16 February 2012,.
Robinson, B.A. “Judaism: Beliefs, Practices, Jewish-Christian Relations,
News…” N.p. 27 February 2010.
 Works Cited Cont.
Robinson. B.A. “Buddhism, Based on the Beliefs of Siddhartha
Guatama.” N.p. 17 March2 011.
Robinson, B.A. “The Christian Religion.” N.p. 15 August 2010.
Robinson, B.A. “ Islam: The Second Largest World Religion… and
Growing.” N.p. 29November 2012.

Robinson, B.A. “Why Religion Sometimes Promote Hatred, Animosity

and Intolerance.” N.p.14 November 2009.
Wenke, Joe. “Is it Right to Call a Bigot a Bigot?” N.p. 29 March 2013.