America's appreciation of diversity and spirit of Christmas sullied by religious biases

 

[caption id="attachment_7745" align="alignleft" width="300"] Jew, Catholic nun and Muslim on World Religion Day, an example of religious tolerance[/caption]

Carol Forsloff---In spite of America's diversity of creed and color, there remains a tendency to think of those who are on the edge of the mainstream groups as the “Other.” This is particularly true since 9/11, as Muslims remain concerned they are targets of suspicion, harassment and prejudice. This is also true of other groups, as even folks without religion are suspicious of those who belong to some of the minority groups. 

Harvard University has a project called the Pluralism Project. Every year the group publishes research on the topic of religion in America. The most recent research examined the impact of the Boston bombing at the marathon on perception of Muslims.

“People, they’re not used to seeing an American Muslim…there’s no such thing, it doesn’t exist,” says Alisha Fields, an African-American convert to Islam who wears hijab or the traditional clothing and who has experience with being labeled. Fields told researchers that she feels her fellow Americans, when they find out you are Muslim, “label you as Other, because if you’re Muslim, people don’t think you’re American.” She told researchers that this sets her up in an either-or choice as Muslim or American.

The Jehovah's Witnesses have a long history of suffering persecution in the United States. There have been numerous cases that have been brought to the courts, where Jehovah's Witnesses, who often refer to themselves as JV's, have been discriminated against, often because of their stance on not entering military service or saluting the flag. In fact some of the veteran's groups have particularly targeted some of the JV's, with the result that the religious group went to the courts to present evidence of discriminatory practices. A book entitled Judging Jehovah's Witnesses provides an overview of the problem.

Although Senator Harry Reid of Nevada and former Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts are both Mormon, questions arose during Romney's run for the Presidency about the Republican politician's religious beliefs. Yet none of the other candidates on either the Democratic or Republican ticket were asked similar questions. And many people, according to the Christian Science Monitor, will private ask their Mormon friends and acquaintances, “You don't really believe all that stuff, do you,” which is a reflection of the negative attitudes that are often expressed about Mormonism.

America has diverse religious groups that include a variety of Christian groups. As Christmas draws closer the different styles of worship during the Christmas holidays become apparent. Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate the holiday. The Mormons do. And the Muslims believe in and honor Christ, but Christmas is not a religious holiday celebrated by most of them in America, although the idea of gift-giving can occur within the greater community with children involvement on some occasions.

Christmas is a time, it is said, for people to come together in the spirit of love and forgiveness. But the suspicion and distrust among religious groups remain a barrier.