Why is there not a specific term for religious discrimination?

Redz

Redz

Redz

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Something I've wondered in my more drunken moments.

If you discriminate on the basis of race, you're a racist, sexual discrimination makes you a sexist, age discrimination makes you ageist and so on, but there is no specific term, as far as I know, for religious discrimination.

Does this mean that religious bigots are discriminated against for not being labelled? :p

Is it because the term "theism" is already taken? It's the most logical choice of term for the attitude and behaviour?

Anyone have the definitive answer or an inspired guess as to why?
 
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I wonder if it has anything to do with most, if not all, of those things which you've said are discriminated against (can't think what the word for this is), are not choices, but something out of your control.
 
This bugs me as well, for anything against Islam or advocating Islamophobia is seen by the left-wingers as being "racist". Christians, Muslims and other believers can come in all colours :-)
 
It's to deliberately wind up people looking for a catchy short word to label others with.

Instead they must turn to wimpy phrases like religious hatred or Islamophobia which just can't ever be shouted in the street the same way as RACIST SCUM.

So when people get stuck for words they'll fall back on short vaguely associated labels like racism and get mocked for it by others who know the difference.
 
There isn't a term for it because as has been said, it's a choice/belief, not a physical attribute.

We'd have to start making up names for people who are prejudiced against people who believe in ghosts, unicorns and fairies etc if we went down that road.
 
dirtychinchilla said:
I wonder if it has anything to do with most, if not all, of those things which you've said are discriminated against (can't think what the word for this is), are not choices, but something out of your control.
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+1

you dont choose to be a certain sex (well, you can i guess these days but you get what i mean), from a certain race etc. you do choose your religion. whether you are forced into it is another matter but any adult has chosen to believe in fairies.
 
Any religious discrimination is bigotry. So the word you are looking for is, bigotry. You could also use intolerance. But if you are looking for an 'ism' then I can't think of one.
 
I'd venture a guess that it's to do with the arrogance of religion and the religious in the belief that their faith is 'the one true faith'. As such, persecution or intolerance of other religions wasn't seen to be 'persecution', but defending ones faith and wasn't deemed important enough to classify.

A lot of archaic views stemming from religion survive to this day.
 
[Damien];24403878 said:
There isn't a term for it because as has been said, it's a choice/belief, not a physical attribute.

We'd have to start making up names for people who are prejudiced against people who believe in ghosts, unicorns and fairies etc if we went down that road.
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cant we just lump them in the category of 'nutters'
 
dirtychinchilla said:
I wonder if it has anything to do with most, if not all, of those things which you've said are discriminated against (can't think what the word for this is), are not choices, but something out of your control.
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I should have put "classism" in there. :) Admittedly, you can't choose the class you are born into but it is possible for someone to change their position in life.
 
Anti-theism i guess not the right definition at all tho. Make up a good one ill spread hatred with it :P
 
Hotwired said:
It's to deliberately wind up people looking for a catchy short word to label others with.

Instead they must turn to wimpy phrases like religious hatred or Islamophobia which just can't ever be shouted in the street the same way as RACIST SCUM.

So when people get stuck for words they'll fall back on short vaguely associated labels like racism and get mocked for it by others who know the difference.
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Haha, well said :D
 
Sliver said:
Any religious discrimination is bigotry. So the word you are looking for is, bigotry. You could also use intolerance. But if you are looking for an 'ism' then I can't think of one.
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Do you also consider political discrimination to be bigotry?

Say someone says they *hate* Tories or Communists etc... does that count too or does your set of personal beliefs that you choose to associate with have to involve an imaginary friend in the sky before its considered bigotry?

(Just asking out of interest - FWIW I don't *hate* individuals for their beliefs per say but I dislike a lot of belief systems and that does lower my opinion slightly of people who are followers of organised religion.)
 
dowie said:
Do you also consider political discrimination to be bigotry?

Say someone says they *hate* Tories or Communists etc... does that count too or does your set of personal beliefs that you choose to associate with have to involve an imaginary friend in the sky before its considered bigotry?

(Just asking out of interest - FWIW I don't *hate* individuals for their beliefs per say but I dislike a lot of belief systems and that does lower my opinion slightly of people who are followers of organised religion.)
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I consider bigotry to be the treatment of others in a prejudiced way. So under the right circumstances, then yes, political discrimination would be bigotry too. It's not about a difference of opinion but more about a difference of treatment between people on the grounds of equality. We all know how well religion does at bigotry, be it towards atheists, gays or other religions. For me, religion is bigotry.
 
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