INTRODUCTION

Religious stereotypes are oversimplified, generalized beliefs or assumptions about individuals or groups based on their religion.

Stereotypes and uninformed opinions confine individuals and define prejudiced victims negatively. This creates widespread misrepresentation and interreligious tensions between communities. Prejudice and stereotyping make up a large part of numerous histories; however, so does the effort to overcome these differences and barriers.

UNVEILING MISREPRESENTATIONS

Media all around the world frequently links Islam and Muslim communities to violent crimes, terrorism, and the subjugation of women, all of which are untrue representations of Islam's true qualities. It demonizes Muslims and encourages Islamophobia, which in turn increases bigotry, hate crimes, and racial division (Harvard University, 2020). Hollywood media, in particular, is a large contributor to this fact. Serious misrepresentation can be spotted in their earlier broadcasting, specifically when Pillars Fund, an organization that joined forces with Ahmad claimed “Despite Muslims being one of the most racially and ethnically diverse religious groups in the world, the characters are mainly stereotyped as Middle Eastern/North African. They’re also illustrated as threatening, and as subservient, particularly to white characters,” This statement underscores the misrepresentation of Muslims and perpetuates stereotypes by depicting them in stereotypical roles, predominantly as Middle Eastern or North African, and portraying them as “threatening and subservient”.

Furthermore, another example of real-world distortions in religious beliefs would be the misconception that all Catholics are traditional and closed-minded. This ignores the diversity of viewpoints within the Catholic community and the large number of individuals who engage in open dialogue, critical thinking, and tolerance. Despite beliefs and religions that are indifferent to other varieties of faith, situations that include heavily prejudiced opinions lead to divisiveness and discord within communities. 

EXPLORING INTERRELIGIOUS TENSIONS 

While theological differences can lead to conflicts across faiths, most wars are brought on by external forces including political power struggles, resource competition, ethnic rivalries, and economic issues (Harvard University, 2020). The disputes that exist between the Catholic and Orthodox churches are an example of this kind of conflict. 

The main distinction between the two religions is that the Orthodox church believes that the Holy Spirit comes exclusively from God the Father, while the Catholic Church believes that the Holy Spirit proceeds from God the Father, to Jesus Christ the Son. The second fundamental theological difference is that the Catholic Church believes the Pope has ultimate authority over the Christian religion, whereas the modern Orthodox Church believes that the Pope has no doctrinal authority. 

CASE STUDIES:

THE ANTI-MUSLIM SENTIMENT

Nineteen terrorists associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda carried out a series of airline hijackings and suicide attacks on American targets in 2001, which are collectively referred to as the September 11 attacks or 9/11 attacks (Gallup, n.d.).  Following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, there was an abrupt rise in racism, xenophobia, and hate crimes committed against Muslims. Hostility and prejudice toward Islam or Muslims is known as "Islamophobia," and it remains a significant problem in the United States, as well as other Westernized countries today. “The hateful rhetoric toward Muslims gives people permission to be discriminatory toward them, whether overtly or more subtly,” says Kevin L. Nadal, PhD, an associate professor of psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice at the City University of New York (Kevin L. Nadal Ph.D., 2015). Additionally, Nadal and co-authors stress that Individuals who share overlapping gender, religion, and other demographic traits might be the target of what the researchers refer to as intersectional microaggressions.

THE JAPANESE AMERICAN INTERNMENT DURING WORLD WAR II

In World War II, Asian Americans and Pacific Island residents faced heavy discrimination. This is because their reputation was painted by the recent attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 by the Japanese. The overwhelming anti-Japanese fear grew at a rapid pace, which led to intense bigotry. Two-thirds of the 120,000 Asian citizens lived in America for their whole lives and were considered full citizens. However, fear had blinded the Americans to such a point that the word “alien” would be associated with Asian-Identified Americans, for many years to come. Despite the racial prejudice that led to one of the worst moments in American history, many Asian citizens served in the US Armed Forces to defend their country. To reduce the length of the war and save lives, about 6,000 Japanese Americans worked as interpreters and translators for the Military Intelligence Service in the Pacific. They used their mother tongue to aid in the life-threatening dispute (The National WWII Museum, n.d.).

SOLUTIONS AND STRATEGIES

Spread Education and Awareness!

• Commit to self-education and keeping friends and family informed about important matters. It also helps to recognize and comprehend the reality of religious intolerance. It’ll be the first step toward eliminating it in Canada.

• Understanding other cultures and religions more thoroughly can help one better comprehend the preconceptions and stereotypes that are often carried unconsciously (Canadian Human Rights Commission, 2023).

Engage in the Community!

• Public speaking with local spiritual and religious authorities tends to form more comprehending individuals, teaching both sides of religion. In addition to speaking alongside others, donating also internationally supports organizations that actively try to battle against worldwide prejudice. 

• Restorative justice will be spread to other communities, ergo creating allies (Canadian Human Rights Commission, 2023).

Promote Positive Narratives!

• It is crucial that people and organizations embrace diversity, education, dialogue, and tolerance, to promote cultural and socioeconomic transformation, making Canada a more hospitable and inclusive nation (Canadian Human Rights Commission, 2023).

• No one should have to endure hardships such as xenophobia or discrimination because of their religious practices or beliefs (Canadian Human Rights Commission, 2023).

IN CONCLUSION

As widely spoken as it is, a collective contribution is crucial to largely eradicate religious stereotypes and prejudice. These contributions help with the understanding of various cultures. Similarly, encouraging inclusive guidelines and practices across a range of institutions can aid in eliminating structural barriers and guaranteeing that everyone, regardless of background or religious beliefs, will be offered equal opportunities. With the aid of close-knit communities and helplines, individuals who have faced prejudice are a priority for help.