Religious Diversity Paper
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University of Phoenix Material
Appendix D
Select at least 1 religious and 1 ethnic group not your own from the list below.
• Religious groups (based on http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/affiliations-all-traditions.pdf)
o Christianity
• Evangelical Protestant • Mainline Protestant • Historically Black Churches • Roman Catholic • Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) • Jehovah’s Witnesses • Orthodox (Greek, Eastern)
o Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform) o Buddhism (Theravada or Mahayana) o Islam (Sunni, Shia, Sufism) o Hinduism
• Ethnic groups (based on divisions in U.S. Census Bureau documents)
o Asian (Asian descent) o Black (African …show more content…
descent) o Hispanic and Latino (South or Central American descent) o Pacific Islander (Polynesian descent) o White (European descent)
Part III
Answer the following questions in 150 to 250 words each about the religious group you selected:
• How does your selected religious group differ from other religious groups (such as in their beliefs, worship practices, or values)? I choose Jehovah Witnesses, Jehovah witnesses beliefs are based on their interpretations of the bible and they prefer to use their own translation. They believe that the destruction of the present world system at Armageddon is imminent, and that the establishment of Gods kingdom on earth is the only solution for all problems faced by humankind. Jehovah witnesses are best known for their door to door preaching, distributing literature such as the watch tower and awake and refusing military service and blood transfusions. They like for people to listen to them and their beliefs but the minute you start to talk about the belief that you believe in they are ready to leave. And they will not go inside a church for anything. And they do not celebrate Christmas. They follow their own rules where as their way is the right way and there is no other way.
What has been the experience of your selected religious group with others that do not share its beliefs or practices?
Jehovah's Witnesses are taught that it is vital to remain "separate from the world. Watch Tower publications define the world as the mass of mankind apart from Jehovah’s approved servants and teach that it is ruled by Satan and a place of danger and moral contamination. Witnesses manifest their world-renouncing beliefs in many ways. They avoid involvement in social controversies, remain politically neutral, and do not seek public office. The Watch Tower Society has stated that voting in political elections is a personal conscience decision, though a Witness who takes any action considered to be a "violation of Christian neutrality" may face religious sanctions. They refuse participation in ecumenical and interfaith activities, abstain from celebrating religious holidays, and reject many customs they claim have pagan origins. They do not work in industries associated with the military, nor serve in the armed services, and refuse national military service, which in some countries may result in their arrest and imprisonment. They do not salute or pledge allegiance to national flags or sing national anthems or other patriotic …show more content…
songs.
In what ways has the religious group you selected contributed to American culture? Jehovah's Witnesses are taught that it is vital to remain "separate from the world. Watch Tower publications define the world as the mass of mankind apart from Jehovah’s approved servants and teach that it is ruled by Satan and a place of danger and moral contamination. Witnesses manifest their world-renouncing beliefs in many ways. They avoid involvement in social controversies, remain politically neutral, and do not seek public office. The Watch Tower Society has stated that voting in political elections is a personal conscience decision, though a Witness who takes any action considered to be a "violation of Christian neutrality" may face religious sanctions. They refuse participation in ecumenical and interfaith activities, abstain from celebrating religious holidays, and reject many customs they claim have pagan origins. They do not work in industries associated with the military, nor serve in the armed services, and refuse national military service, which in some countries may result in their arrest and imprisonment. They do not salute or pledge allegiance to national flags or sing national anthems or other patriotic songs. • • Provide specific examples of prejudice or discrimination your selected religious group has experienced.
Throughout the history of Jehovah witnesses their beliefs, doctrines, and practices have engendered controversy and opposition from governments, communities, and religious groups. Many Christian denominations consider their doctrines to be heretical, and some religious leaders have labeled Jehovah’s witnesses a cult. Members of the religion have also met with objection from governments for refusing to serve in the military, particularly in times of war. Many people consider their door to door preaching to be intrusive. These issues have at times led to persecution of Jehovah’s witnesses in various
countries.
What were the sources of this prejudice or discrimination? The right to exist as a legally registered entity. The right to practice their distinct form of worship, including the rights of free assembly and free speech. The right to exercise their religiously based conscientious objection to war. Jehovah’s witnesses are among the most frequent targets of government sanctioned suppression and persecution. Official repression includes unlawful detention, revolving imprisonment policies, raids on houses of worship, economic discrimination, denial of employment and education.
• Does what you’ve learned about this religious group help you understand it? In what ways? I have learned a lot because I have always wanted to know why they never did holidays, and why they went door to door telling people about their religion. I see now that they think they have to work hard so they can get into heaven because they believe that only a certain number of people will get into heaven. And by them going door to door they think they are earning a spot in heaven. And they also never say God they only believe in Jehovah. It’s a lot more that I’m reading so I can learn more on the Jehovah Witnesses.
Answer the following questions in 150 to 250 words each about the ethnic group you selected:
How does your selected ethnic group differ from other ethnic groups (such as differences in ancestry, language, or culture)? American Asians comprise one of the fastest growing groups in North America. They are highly diverse, including dozens of ethnic backgrounds and languages: individuals from Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, Laotian, Philippine, Thai, and Vietnamese ancestry. The first Asians to settle the United States were Chinese Filipinos, who had originally migrated to Mexico then moved to what is now Louisiana. Beginning in the 1840's, increasing numbers of Chinese workers immigrated to the West, as well as Japanese, Koreans, and Filipinos to Hawaii. These early immigrant laborers underwent much persecution and were not originally granted citizenship, even if their children were born in the United States. This caused them to form their own communities where they could be self-sufficient. Conditions for Asians in the United States did not improve dramatically until after the conclusion of World War II, during which thousands of Japanese Americans were kept in isolated camps. During the 1970s and 1980s, immigration increased from Southeast Asia following the Vietnam conflict. •
• What has been your selected ethnic group’s experience with other ethnic groups? Asian Americans commonly face challenges in establishing cultural identity, especially second-generation immigrants who struggle to balance traditional cultural ideas with the pressure of assimilating into American cultural society. When working with individuals of Asian ancestry it is important to understand three of the main Eastern philosophies and their impact on Asian culture: Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Within these philosophies families are highly structured, hierarchical, and paternal. Within the family systems children are taught that they must avoid bringing shame to their family and that the welfare and integrity of the family are very important. These Asian philosophies also teach principles of peace, balance, and harmony--which causes some Asians to tend to avoid confrontation or appear passive, indifferent, or indecisive. Using indirect methods of communication may be appropriate for some Asian students with strong ties to their ancestral culture.
• In what ways has the ethnic group you selected contributed to American culture? Chinese New Year - Celebrated on the first day of the first moon of the lunar calendar (variable, from January 29th to February 19th), this colorful holiday is commemorated through festivals, food, family, and traditional rituals that focus on the coming of a new year. Many crafts and activities associated with this holiday can be incorporated into classrooms to recognize the Chinese New Year
• Identify some specific examples of prejudice or discrimination that your selected ethnic group has experienced historically.
Asian immigrants didn’t have equal treatment to land ownership, citizenship, and other rights in state and federal court in the early 1900s.Many times, Asians were not even allowed to testify in court. Perhaps the most infamous episode of anti-Asian racism was the unjustified imprisonment of Asian Americans during World War II done solely on the basis of their ethnic ancestry.
• What were the sources of this prejudice or discrimination? People didn’t like the Asian race. It was ok for many to discriminate against Asians. It was ok for people to treat them less than a dog because they are different. They didn’t have the same rights as a white American back then. To this day Asians are still discriminated against in colleges and jobs
• Does what you’ve learned about this ethnic group help you understand it? How? It has helped me to understand that Asian’s did and still today face challenges because of their race. I can completely understand that God didn’t create everyone the same race. We are alone. Asian’s faced many challenges in the past as they do today
Part IV
Answer the following questions in 150 to 250 words each:
• How are the prejudice and discrimination experienced by your selected religious group and ethnic group similar? They are similar because they both face challenges because of their religious beliefs or race. It all boils down to if you are not a certain race then you will get treated differently. People view Jehovah witness as atheist because of their man made beliefs. And Asians are treated differently because of the country they come from
• How are they different? The only difference is that one is a race and the other is a religion. Most Asian believes in Christianity, Hindu or Buddhism. While I have yet to see an Asian Jehovah witness a lot of them believe in their strict religion
• Can you draw any conclusions about discrimination from this comparison? The only conclusion I can draw from this comparison is that discrimination is discrimination regardless of whom or what their beliefs are. No matter what race a person is. It is wrong to discriminate because of who they are as a person. Nobody is created equal
University of Phoenix Material
Appendix D
Select at least 1 religious and 1 ethnic group not your own from the list below.
• Religious groups (based on http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/affiliations-all-traditions.pdf)
o Christianity
• Evangelical Protestant • Mainline Protestant • Historically Black Churches • Roman Catholic • Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) • Jehovah’s Witnesses • Orthodox (Greek, Eastern)
o Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform) o Buddhism (Theravada or Mahayana) o Islam (Sunni, Shia, Sufism) o Hinduism
• Ethnic groups (based on divisions in U.S. Census Bureau documents)
o Asian (Asian descent) o Black (African …show more content…
descent) o Hispanic and Latino (South or Central American descent) o Pacific Islander (Polynesian descent) o White (European descent)
Part III
Answer the following questions in 150 to 250 words each about the religious group you selected:
• How does your selected religious group differ from other religious groups (such as in their beliefs, worship practices, or values)? I choose Jehovah Witnesses, Jehovah witnesses beliefs are based on their interpretations of the bible and they prefer to use their own translation. They believe that the destruction of the present world system at Armageddon is imminent, and that the establishment of Gods kingdom on earth is the only solution for all problems faced by humankind. Jehovah witnesses are best known for their door to door preaching, distributing literature such as the watch tower and awake and refusing military service and blood transfusions. They like for people to listen to them and their beliefs but the minute you start to talk about the belief that you believe in they are ready to leave. And they will not go inside a church for anything. And they do not celebrate Christmas. They follow their own rules where as their way is the right way and there is no other way.
What has been the experience of your selected religious group with others that do not share its beliefs or practices?
Jehovah's Witnesses are taught that it is vital to remain "separate from the world. Watch Tower publications define the world as the mass of mankind apart from Jehovah’s approved servants and teach that it is ruled by Satan and a place of danger and moral contamination. Witnesses manifest their world-renouncing beliefs in many ways. They avoid involvement in social controversies, remain politically neutral, and do not seek public office. The Watch Tower Society has stated that voting in political elections is a personal conscience decision, though a Witness who takes any action considered to be a "violation of Christian neutrality" may face religious sanctions. They refuse participation in ecumenical and interfaith activities, abstain from celebrating religious holidays, and reject many customs they claim have pagan origins. They do not work in industries associated with the military, nor serve in the armed services, and refuse national military service, which in some countries may result in their arrest and imprisonment. They do not salute or pledge allegiance to national flags or sing national anthems or other patriotic …show more content…
songs.
In what ways has the religious group you selected contributed to American culture? Jehovah's Witnesses are taught that it is vital to remain "separate from the world. Watch Tower publications define the world as the mass of mankind apart from Jehovah’s approved servants and teach that it is ruled by Satan and a place of danger and moral contamination. Witnesses manifest their world-renouncing beliefs in many ways. They avoid involvement in social controversies, remain politically neutral, and do not seek public office. The Watch Tower Society has stated that voting in political elections is a personal conscience decision, though a Witness who takes any action considered to be a "violation of Christian neutrality" may face religious sanctions. They refuse participation in ecumenical and interfaith activities, abstain from celebrating religious holidays, and reject many customs they claim have pagan origins. They do not work in industries associated with the military, nor serve in the armed services, and refuse national military service, which in some countries may result in their arrest and imprisonment. They do not salute or pledge allegiance to national flags or sing national anthems or other patriotic songs. • • Provide specific examples of prejudice or discrimination your selected religious group has experienced.
Throughout the history of Jehovah witnesses their beliefs, doctrines, and practices have engendered controversy and opposition from governments, communities, and religious groups. Many Christian denominations consider their doctrines to be heretical, and some religious leaders have labeled Jehovah’s witnesses a cult. Members of the religion have also met with objection from governments for refusing to serve in the military, particularly in times of war. Many people consider their door to door preaching to be intrusive. These issues have at times led to persecution of Jehovah’s witnesses in various
countries.
What were the sources of this prejudice or discrimination? The right to exist as a legally registered entity. The right to practice their distinct form of worship, including the rights of free assembly and free speech. The right to exercise their religiously based conscientious objection to war. Jehovah’s witnesses are among the most frequent targets of government sanctioned suppression and persecution. Official repression includes unlawful detention, revolving imprisonment policies, raids on houses of worship, economic discrimination, denial of employment and education.
• Does what you’ve learned about this religious group help you understand it? In what ways? I have learned a lot because I have always wanted to know why they never did holidays, and why they went door to door telling people about their religion. I see now that they think they have to work hard so they can get into heaven because they believe that only a certain number of people will get into heaven. And by them going door to door they think they are earning a spot in heaven. And they also never say God they only believe in Jehovah. It’s a lot more that I’m reading so I can learn more on the Jehovah Witnesses.
Answer the following questions in 150 to 250 words each about the ethnic group you selected:
How does your selected ethnic group differ from other ethnic groups (such as differences in ancestry, language, or culture)? American Asians comprise one of the fastest growing groups in North America. They are highly diverse, including dozens of ethnic backgrounds and languages: individuals from Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, Laotian, Philippine, Thai, and Vietnamese ancestry. The first Asians to settle the United States were Chinese Filipinos, who had originally migrated to Mexico then moved to what is now Louisiana. Beginning in the 1840's, increasing numbers of Chinese workers immigrated to the West, as well as Japanese, Koreans, and Filipinos to Hawaii. These early immigrant laborers underwent much persecution and were not originally granted citizenship, even if their children were born in the United States. This caused them to form their own communities where they could be self-sufficient. Conditions for Asians in the United States did not improve dramatically until after the conclusion of World War II, during which thousands of Japanese Americans were kept in isolated camps. During the 1970s and 1980s, immigration increased from Southeast Asia following the Vietnam conflict. •
• What has been your selected ethnic group’s experience with other ethnic groups? Asian Americans commonly face challenges in establishing cultural identity, especially second-generation immigrants who struggle to balance traditional cultural ideas with the pressure of assimilating into American cultural society. When working with individuals of Asian ancestry it is important to understand three of the main Eastern philosophies and their impact on Asian culture: Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Within these philosophies families are highly structured, hierarchical, and paternal. Within the family systems children are taught that they must avoid bringing shame to their family and that the welfare and integrity of the family are very important. These Asian philosophies also teach principles of peace, balance, and harmony--which causes some Asians to tend to avoid confrontation or appear passive, indifferent, or indecisive. Using indirect methods of communication may be appropriate for some Asian students with strong ties to their ancestral culture.
• In what ways has the ethnic group you selected contributed to American culture? Chinese New Year - Celebrated on the first day of the first moon of the lunar calendar (variable, from January 29th to February 19th), this colorful holiday is commemorated through festivals, food, family, and traditional rituals that focus on the coming of a new year. Many crafts and activities associated with this holiday can be incorporated into classrooms to recognize the Chinese New Year
• Identify some specific examples of prejudice or discrimination that your selected ethnic group has experienced historically.
Asian immigrants didn’t have equal treatment to land ownership, citizenship, and other rights in state and federal court in the early 1900s.Many times, Asians were not even allowed to testify in court. Perhaps the most infamous episode of anti-Asian racism was the unjustified imprisonment of Asian Americans during World War II done solely on the basis of their ethnic ancestry.
• What were the sources of this prejudice or discrimination? People didn’t like the Asian race. It was ok for many to discriminate against Asians. It was ok for people to treat them less than a dog because they are different. They didn’t have the same rights as a white American back then. To this day Asians are still discriminated against in colleges and jobs
• Does what you’ve learned about this ethnic group help you understand it? How? It has helped me to understand that Asian’s did and still today face challenges because of their race. I can completely understand that God didn’t create everyone the same race. We are alone. Asian’s faced many challenges in the past as they do today
Part IV
Answer the following questions in 150 to 250 words each:
• How are the prejudice and discrimination experienced by your selected religious group and ethnic group similar? They are similar because they both face challenges because of their religious beliefs or race. It all boils down to if you are not a certain race then you will get treated differently. People view Jehovah witness as atheist because of their man made beliefs. And Asians are treated differently because of the country they come from
• How are they different? The only difference is that one is a race and the other is a religion. Most Asian believes in Christianity, Hindu or Buddhism. While I have yet to see an Asian Jehovah witness a lot of them believe in their strict religion
• Can you draw any conclusions about discrimination from this comparison? The only conclusion I can draw from this comparison is that discrimination is discrimination regardless of whom or what their beliefs are. No matter what race a person is. It is wrong to discriminate because of who they are as a person. Nobody is created equal