Multifaith society and Religious Pluralism

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Multi-faith society and Religious Pluralism
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Keywords

• Multi-faith society many different religions in
  one society.
• Religious Pluralism accepting all faiths as
  having an equal right to co-exist.

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How many religious followers?

• Hindus
• Non-conformist Christians
• Sikhs
• Buddhists
• Roman Catholics
• C of E Christians
• Muslims
• Jews

500,000 6,300,000 600,000 100,000 5,800,000 25,600
,000 1,400,000 300,000
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History of Religious Tolerance

• Before 1671 if you were anti-Christian in your
  attitudes you could be branded a heretic and
  killed.
• Many heretics were burned at the stake.

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History of Religious Tolerance

• 1671 Heresy ceased to be a crime
• 1688 Non-conformists given the freedom to
  worship
• 1828 Non-conformists given same political
  rights as C of E Christians.
• 1829 Roman Catholics given same political
  rights as C of E Christians.
• 1858 Jews (and therefore all people) given same
  political rights as C of E Christians.

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Do we live in a religiously tolerant society?

• To answer this question we need to look at news
  stories and at the beliefs of religious figures.

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Theatre ends play in Sikh protest
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1990 Iranian leader upholds Rushdie fatwa
Iran's spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,
has said the death sentence on writer Salman
Rushdie for alleged blasphemy will remain in
force. He rejected the author's repentance and
recent decision not to publish a paperback
edition of the novel The Satanic Verses which was
deemed offensive to the Islamic faith. Tehran
Radio quoted Ayatollah Khameini as saying the
decree by his predecessor Ayatollah Ruhollah
Khomeini "remains unchanged even if he repents
and becomes the most pious man of his time". The
Indian-born novelist has been in hiding under
police guard since Ayatollah Khomeini ordered his
death 22 months ago.
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What religious thinkers have said?

• All faiths have a common faith in a higher
  reality which demands brotherhood on earth.
  John Hick
• No matter how good and true any other religion
  might seem, it is false because the light of
  Christ has not fallen on it. Karl Bath
• If anyone takes a religion other than Islam he
  will be in the ranks of those who have lost
  Surah 385

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Some questions

• Is it wrong to say or write something which might
  offend someone of another religion?
• Is it possible to accept that all religious
  faiths have equal worth?
• Is it right for religious people to try to
  convert people to their beliefs?

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Two quotes to think about

• In my fathers house there are many rooms
  John 142
• Jesus said No one comes to the Father except
  through me John 146