Religious coercion
Encyclopedia
Religious coercion
it is the practice of forcing a religious norm on a whole public or on its parts, while violating the peoples freedom of religion
or freedom from religion. The term "Religious coercion" is the opposite term to "Secular coercion
", which describes the opposite process in which a secular public imposes its norms on a religious community and/or prevent it from practicing its religion.
describes the norm of religious coercion of Jewish decrees on people belonging to the Jewish faith. The bible describes events of religious coercion in the Kingdom of Judah
and the Kingdom of Israel
, such as Josiah
whom ended the worship of idols
in the kingdom of Judah. Researchers disagree whether the Neo-Babylonian Empire
had religious coercion against the various population groups whom lived in its boundaries, although there is a wide consensus that the Babylon cities would not normally have religious coercion. However, the Book of Daniel
describes an incident in which King Nebuchadnezzar
ordered all his subjects to worship his statue.
During the Middle Ages religious coercion became a prevalent norm in Europe as many rulers ordered their subjects to practice the religion they belonged to. The Inquisition
investigated and punished many Christians whom were suspected of observing a different religion. The Peace of Westphalia
, established after the religious wars of the Thirty Years War, stated that people had the right to immigrate to different country if they did not accept the dominant religion in their country. Peace of Westphalia did not prevent religious coercion, but it did lay the foundations for it as the countries agreed that countries may choose their religion and by the mutual recognition between countries of different religious streams. Religious coercion lasted into the 20th century. For example, during 1930s Austrian children were still obligated to participate in religious studies in schools and people were not allowed to denounce a religion at a young age.
Coercion
Coercion is the practice of forcing another party to behave in an involuntary manner by use of threats or intimidation or some other form of pressure or force. In law, coercion is codified as the duress crime. Such actions are used as leverage, to force the victim to act in the desired way...
it is the practice of forcing a religious norm on a whole public or on its parts, while violating the peoples freedom of religion
Freedom of religion
Freedom of religion is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any...
or freedom from religion. The term "Religious coercion" is the opposite term to "Secular coercion
Secular coercion
Secular coercion is a step taken, by means of a deliberate policy or without one, designed to lead to processes of Secularization or to disobedience of religious decrees amongst a religious public....
", which describes the opposite process in which a secular public imposes its norms on a religious community and/or prevent it from practicing its religion.
Religious coercion as a religious decree
Many religions are not satisfied with imposing the religion decrees only on its members whom believe in it, but also have obligations directed towards people whom belong to the same religion but do not observe all or any of the religious decrees, as well obligations directed towards people of other religions. Examples:- According to JudaismJudaismJudaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, gentiles are also obligated to commit the Seven Laws of Noah. - One of the fundamental principles of Islamic faithIslamIslam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
is JihadJihadJihad , an Islamic term, is a religious duty of Muslims. In Arabic, the word jihād translates as a noun meaning "struggle". Jihad appears 41 times in the Quran and frequently in the idiomatic expression "striving in the way of God ". A person engaged in jihad is called a mujahid; the plural is...
, meaning a military effort or warWarWar is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
against the pagansPagansPagans may refer to:* Paganism, a group of religions* Order of the Vine, a druidic faction in the "Thief" video game series* Pagans Motorcycle Club, a motorcycle club* The Pagans, a 1970s American punk band...
(idol worshipers) in order to make them accept upon themselves the religion of IslamIslamIslam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, or against non-Muslims whom have attacked Muslims or rebel against a Muslim government. - In ChristianityChristianityChristianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
the Christian missionary movement worked through history to convert non-Christians to Christianity, in many occasions even by means of violence.
History
The TorahTorah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
describes the norm of religious coercion of Jewish decrees on people belonging to the Jewish faith. The bible describes events of religious coercion in the Kingdom of Judah
Kingdom of Judah
The Kingdom of Judah was a Jewish state established in the Southern Levant during the Iron Age. It is often referred to as the "Southern Kingdom" to distinguish it from the northern Kingdom of Israel....
and the Kingdom of Israel
Kingdom of Israel
The Kingdom of Israel was, according to the Bible, one of the successor states to the older United Monarchy . It was thought to exist roughly from the 930s BCE until about the 720s BCE, when the kingdom was conquered by the Assyrian Empire...
, such as Josiah
Josiah
Josiah or Yoshiyahu or Joshua was a king of Judah who instituted major reforms. Josiah is credited by most historians with having established or compiled important Jewish scriptures during the Deuteronomic reform that occurred during his rule.Josiah became king of Judah at the age of eight, after...
whom ended the worship of idols
Idolatry
Idolatry is a pejorative term for the worship of an idol, a physical object such as a cult image, as a god, or practices believed to verge on worship, such as giving undue honour and regard to created forms other than God. In all the Abrahamic religions idolatry is strongly forbidden, although...
in the kingdom of Judah. Researchers disagree whether the Neo-Babylonian Empire
Neo-Babylonian Empire
The Neo-Babylonian Empire or Second Babylonian Empire was a period of Mesopotamian history which began in 626 BC and ended in 539 BC. During the preceding three centuries, Babylonia had been ruled by their fellow Akkadian speakers and northern neighbours, Assyria. Throughout that time Babylonia...
had religious coercion against the various population groups whom lived in its boundaries, although there is a wide consensus that the Babylon cities would not normally have religious coercion. However, the Book of Daniel
Book of Daniel
The Book of Daniel is a book in the Hebrew Bible. The book tells of how Daniel, and his Judean companions, were inducted into Babylon during Jewish exile, and how their positions elevated in the court of Nebuchadnezzar. The court tales span events that occur during the reigns of Nebuchadnezzar,...
describes an incident in which King Nebuchadnezzar
Nebuchadnezzar
Nebuchadnezzar was the name of several kings of Babylonia.* Nebuchadnezzar I, who ruled the Babylonian Empire in the 12th century BC* Nebuchadnezzar II , the Babylonian ruler mentioned in the biblical Book of Daniel...
ordered all his subjects to worship his statue.
During the Middle Ages religious coercion became a prevalent norm in Europe as many rulers ordered their subjects to practice the religion they belonged to. The Inquisition
Inquisition
The Inquisition, Inquisitio Haereticae Pravitatis , was the "fight against heretics" by several institutions within the justice-system of the Roman Catholic Church. It started in the 12th century, with the introduction of torture in the persecution of heresy...
investigated and punished many Christians whom were suspected of observing a different religion. The Peace of Westphalia
Peace of Westphalia
The Peace of Westphalia was a series of peace treaties signed between May and October of 1648 in Osnabrück and Münster. These treaties ended the Thirty Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire, and the Eighty Years' War between Spain and the Dutch Republic, with Spain formally recognizing the...
, established after the religious wars of the Thirty Years War, stated that people had the right to immigrate to different country if they did not accept the dominant religion in their country. Peace of Westphalia did not prevent religious coercion, but it did lay the foundations for it as the countries agreed that countries may choose their religion and by the mutual recognition between countries of different religious streams. Religious coercion lasted into the 20th century. For example, during 1930s Austrian children were still obligated to participate in religious studies in schools and people were not allowed to denounce a religion at a young age.
Characteristics of religious coercion
In a democracy, legislation is made by the House of Representatives or by body authorized to do so. Legislation based on the norms of a religion is no different, in the process of its acceptance, from any other legislation, and in this sense it is no more coercive than any legislation whose origins are not religious. Viewing the legislation as religious coercion stems from the impact on the freedom of religion of freedom from religion.See also
- Secular coercionSecular coercionSecular coercion is a step taken, by means of a deliberate policy or without one, designed to lead to processes of Secularization or to disobedience of religious decrees amongst a religious public....
- Religious lawReligious lawIn some religions, law can be thought of as the ordering principle of reality; knowledge as revealed by a God defining and governing all human affairs. Law, in the religious sense, also includes codes of ethics and morality which are upheld and required by the God...
- Freedom of religionFreedom of religionFreedom of religion is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any...
- Religious coercion in IsraelReligious coercion in IsraelReligious coercion is the forced imposition of religious norms on the general public, or on parts pf the general population, while violating the freedom of religion and freedom from religion of the general public or of the individual...