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mdiv_2013_ch9_powerpoint.pptUnderstanding Religious Freedom and Work
Chapter Nine
Workplace Diversity
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Religious Freedom
- Name a religion
- Over 310 recognized religions in the US
- Top Religions in the US
- Christianity
- Judaism
- Islam
- Buddhism
- Hinduism
Taken from http://undergod.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000068
Workplace Diversity Ch. 9
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Workplace Diversity Ch. 9
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Religious Freedom
The World’s Three Largest Religions:
(in order)
- Christianity ~33.35%
- Islam (Muslim) ~ 22.43%
- Buddhism ~7.13%
Taken from http://www.30-days.net/muslims/statistics/world-stats/
Christian 33.35% (of which Roman Catholic 16.83%, Protestant 6.08%, Orthodox 4.03%, Anglican 1.26%), Muslim 22.43%, Hindu 13.78%, Buddhist 7.13%, Sikh 0.36%, Jewish 0.21%, Baha’i 0.11%, other religions 11.17%, non-religious 9.42%, atheists 2.04%
- What is your religious IQ?
Workplace Diversity Ch. 9
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Workplace Diversity Ch. 9
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Christian Beliefs
Christians make up about 33% of the world’s population.
A prime belief: life after death but this belief varies such as:
- some believe in punishment in hell unless saved
- few go directly to Heaven instead many go to purgatory which is a temporary hell
- the belief that “hell” is just symbolic.
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Christianity
- There are over 1,000 Christian groups in North America each with their own set of beliefs, policies and practices.
- Many Christians view their religion as Us vs. Them.
- Many fundamentalists and other Evangelical Christians view themselves as the only true Christians. Mainline & liberal Christians tend to be much more inclusive.
Workplace Diversity Ch. 9
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Christian Beliefs
- Christians pray
- Believe in one God
- Believe that Jesus is the Savior
- Some tithe, some fast, some worship in a church on Saturday and some on Sunday
- Popularity of the religion is dropping.
- Christian holidays = Christmas & Easter
Workplace Diversity Ch. 9
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Jews in America
Myth: Jews are a racial group
Fact: Jews do not share one common ancestry or biological distinction. It is not a nationality, people of many different nationalities and races are Jews.
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Jews in America
What makes you a Jew?
- Through birth from their Jewish mother they become part of the religious movement even if they do not observe Jewish practices.
- Can go through a conversion process but different Jewish denominations of Orthodox, Conservative and Reform disagree about the process.
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Jews in America
Why were Jews persecuted?
Because of cultural differences between the different Jews in the early days anti-semitism began because these “new” Jews embarrassed the German Jews. The German Jews were “reformed” Jews which meant that they had a common culture with liberalism. But, the European Jews were orthodox Jews who kept all the laws and customs of the Torah, the Jews holy book.
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Jewish Important Days
- Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year occurs September – October.
- Yom Kippur, a 25 hour fast during June the 10 Tishrei.
- Sabbath Day, Saturday
- Use the Jewish calendar which runs according to the moon rather than the sun like the civil calendar.
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Islam
- Accounts for 20% of the world’s population.
- It is growing at such a pace that it is estimated to become the dominant religion of the world during this century.
- Muslims (Islam followers) are not just Arabs, as they only represent 25% of the Muslim population. There is no country on earth without some groups of Muslims.
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Islamic Beliefs
- Muslims do not believe that you can force individuals to become Muslims according to their holy book the Qur’an.
- Killing is condemned.
- Jihad is often discussed as a Militant radical Islamic fringe group that emphasizes a “holy war” against non-Muslims but the true meaning is “to strive in the cause of God” and this is shown through word and example and not by violence.
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Islamic Beliefs
- The Islamic faith while it allows self-defense it gives specific interpretation of what this means.
- Difference between Sunni and Shiite Muslim? No significant differences in doctrine or rituals but some differences exist in interpretation of Islamic Law.
- Sunnis make up 85% of Muslims worldwide and are more orthodox than the Shia which live mostly in Iran and Lebanon.
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Hinduism
- India’s indigenous religion and cultural system.
- Followed by one billion adherents mostly in India but with large populations in other countries.
- Hinduism has a broad spectrum of philosophies ranging from pluralistic theism to absolute monism.
- Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism emerged from this religion.
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Hinduism
- Just like Christians, Jews, Muslims and Buddhists, Hindus have no central headquarters.
- Hinduism is about the life not just the religion. Belief in dharma, karma and reincarnation creates this lifestyle.
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Hinduism
What is Dharma?
A study of Indian literature reveals that two main meanings of the word "dharma" have been preserved throughout the ages:
to sustain (its generic meaning, based on the word dh¥ ), and
nature or characteristic (a specific meaning, based on realization
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Hinduism
What is Karma?
Karma -- from the root kri, "to do" -- was a power by which they could influence the Gods, nature, weather, harvests and enemies through right intent and rites righteously performed. Thus by their actions they could determine their destiny.
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Hindu Beliefs
Five Obligations of all Hindus:
- Worship in the family shrines, yogas, chants and religious study;
- Holy days in the homes and temple;
- Virtuous living (dharma);
- Pilgrimage-setting aside worldly affairs;
- Rites of passage through rites of birth, name-giving, head-shaving, first learning coming of age, marriage and death to name some.
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Wicca
- Has 17 unrelated activities ranging from witchcraft to Satanism. It has more than 500,000 followers, no reliable numbers but estimated to be the world’s 5th largest religion.
- It is a controversial religion based on ancient, northern European pagan beliefs in a fertility Goddess and her horned God.
- It is speculated that it became a mass movement during the 1950s in England and has expanded in North America and Europe.
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Wiccans
- Many hide their religion due to the myths that surround witchcraft and belief that all worship the devil.
- They believe in a creative force called “The one” or “The all” as well as pagan Gods as a representative of this.
- They believe in the Goddess and God as representing the female and male of The All.
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Wicca Beliefs
- Females are respected as equals.
- They believe hard and good is returned threefolds.
- They aim for male/female balance in their groups.
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Religious Diversity
- Without some understanding that different religions exist it is easy to assume that most people operate under the same religious principles.
- Religious discrimination is prohibited by the Civil Rights Act and must be taken seriously in the workplace.
- Knowledge is the key to understanding.
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Religious Accommodation
Requested religious accommodations vary:
- an employee may need a particular day off each year for a religious holiday;
- or to refrain from work every week on his or her Sabbath;
- or to wear religious garb; or to have a place to pray.
An employer must try to arrange for these religious obligations.
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What is “religious harassment”?
Under Title VII, an employer has an affirmative obligation to maintain a work environment free of harassment, intimidation and repeated insult.
The employer’s obligation extends to situations where he or she knows of the harassment or has reason to know of it and does nothing to clear up the situation.
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Religious harassment
If fellow employees are creating a hostile work environment through religious harassment, the employee has an obligation to notify his or her supervisor of the harassment.
If the harassment continues after the supervisor is notified, the employee may file a complaint of discrimination against the employer.
