The inevitable (and probably most obvious) question has presented itself: what exactly is religious intolerance? I guess that there can be many different explanations for this, but religioustolerance.org divides the concept into four sections:

Inter-Faith
            For example, the current conflict between Muslims and Jews in the Middle East. It is when two different, non-affiliated religions attack each other. This is perhaps the most stereotypical of the four types of intolerance.

Intra-Faith
            For example, Catholics attacking Mormons on the basis of their beliefs. It is when two different denominations within a religion are being intolerant of one another. Yes, it happens most anywhere and more often than one would think.

Faith Groups vs. Secular Groups
            For example, the Westboro Baptist Church starting GodHatesFags.com. It is when a religion or religious group attacks a Secular group or one not relating to a religion.

Secular Groups vs. Faith Groups
            For example, the Nazis of WWII-era Germany demeaning and exterminating the Jewish community. It is when a secular group or one not relating to a religion attacks a religion or religious group.

            Intolerance by different groups is a form of cancer that plagues parts of society, taking various forms. From demeaning other religions to demeaning its followers, intolerance does practically no good in the structure of American society I said ‘practically for a reason, read on) whether it be by people attempting to ‘defend America’ or ‘bring justice to a false religion’.

            The thought of no intolerance is indeed a nice one, but that is still only a thought. Intolerance occurs today and a witness turning the other way does nothing to fix the problem. Look at the case of Muammar Ali in 2005. A star tailback for the New Mexico State Aggies football team Ali was projected to be the team’s leading rusher for the ’05 season. That all changed at practice one day when his coach had the team recite the Lord’s prayer at the end of drills. As Ali and two other Muslim teammates began doing their Islamic prayers, the NMSU coach got a bit agitated. Over the course of the next few weeks, Ali (who was the projected ’05 starter) slowly descended down his team’s depth chart to the fifth starting position. His role during team practices diminished along with his demotion to the bench and Ali, along with his two fellow Muslim teammates, was soon completely off the team for no other apparent reason other than their religion (read the full story here, courtesy of The Progressive) (Rothschild).

            There have been instances in American history where our constitutional right of religious freedom has actually been violated in cases that the majority of America supports. One such case can easily be seen; the inclusion of “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance. While this inclusion is something that I personally support, it is also something that I cannot reasonably justify; Its inclusion violates parts of what I believe the first amendment to be (that no one church or religion can be nationally enforced). This also holds true for the inclusion of “In God We Trust” on the back of US currency. While these two appearances of God in government are things that I personally am supportive of, they cannot be easily defended against the Constitution. Both inclusions of God may have to go in the near future in order to make progress against the favoring or discriminating of religions.

            So now we arrive at possibly the second-most obvious question concerning intolerance; how can it be stopped? All I can say is that I think that if there was a definitive answer for that the problem would no longer exist. Intolerance has occurred in our history due to people fearing other religions as deviations from reality, a threat to their current religion or group, or just as something they don’t agree with. Basically, the safe way to go is to follow the basic motto of most major churches; “Treat others the way that you want to be treated”. America was founded on the concept of freedom, therefore we as Americans have the responsibility of making sure that these freedoms are maintained and allowed to continue. The freedom of expressing ones religion and being free of persecution from other religions was one of the values that made people cross the Atlantic for the new world and for the USA to be founded. Anytime that intolerance occurs, hundreds of years of progress is lost.