Throughout history, ignorance has cast its shadow over the realms of religion as it has done for many ideologies. The act of jumping to conclusions without in-depth knowledge of what is being judged, can often lead to generalisation and fear. If we are to form an opinion of a whole religion, we need to look beyond specific violent groups of people who hijack the religious terminology. Extremists have used religion to justify their unimaginable crimes throughout history, and it has not by any means been limited to Islam. We must not forget the violent Crusades undertaken by Christians in the Middle Ages or the Zionist militants in Palestine who carried out terrorist attacks in the 1940's. Or the Sinhala Buddhist groups in Sri Lanka who promote violence against local Christians and Tamils right now in the 21st Century. This is highlighting just a few examples amongst many. People have not only committed hideous criminal acts in the name of their faith, but also in the name of their political, racial, or sexist agendas. They are only fuelled by the hatred of outsiders. It is through the power of education that people can see beyond the stereotype of the religious extremist. Whether you are an atheist, agnostic or a religious follower, respect for different beliefs should to be at the heart of each opinion formed. It is this variety of different perspectives and beliefs within communities, which makes our world so interesting. The ability to understand and tolerate such differences amongst the same society, plays a key part in community life and holds a key position in our sociocultural evolution. It is an essential component of peace.
Teachings of all religions are often misinterpreted by the media, public and certain groups of people. In light of current news, the word Jihad has been falsely used by the media to represent terrorism. The importance of defining terminology accurately in a religious context plays a vital role in avoiding the simplification mentioned earlier. The word Jihad literally means ‘to struggle’. It can refer to the personal, inner struggle to be a good person and the external struggle, to defend peace and the religion itself. Violence should only be used as a last resort in such a defence, and this is where the confusion can lie. It is not a declaration of war against other religions as so many people think. TrueTube have recently produced the film ‘What is Jihad’ which explores the true meaning of the word. The accompanying Teachers’ Notes also offer a range of activities and discussion questions to help you get started. By interviewing an Imam, a Muslim youth worker and a Muslim journalist on what Jihad means to them, the audience will gain a better understanding of this often misunderstood concept. Approaching this topic from a religious perspective, allows Muslims to personally defend themselves from the generalisation and prejudice they constantly face from the media. The growing shadow of ignorance can be lifted for the next generation if we allow such voices to be heard in your classroom.
Teachings of all religions are often misinterpreted by the media, public and certain groups of people. In light of current news, the word Jihad has been falsely used by the media to represent terrorism. The importance of defining terminology accurately in a religious context plays a vital role in avoiding the simplification mentioned earlier. The word Jihad literally means ‘to struggle’. It can refer to the personal, inner struggle to be a good person and the external struggle, to defend peace and the religion itself. Violence should only be used as a last resort in such a defence, and this is where the confusion can lie. It is not a declaration of war against other religions as so many people think. TrueTube have recently produced the film ‘What is Jihad’ which explores the true meaning of the word. The accompanying Teachers’ Notes also offer a range of activities and discussion questions to help you get started. By interviewing an Imam, a Muslim youth worker and a Muslim journalist on what Jihad means to them, the audience will gain a better understanding of this often misunderstood concept. Approaching this topic from a religious perspective, allows Muslims to personally defend themselves from the generalisation and prejudice they constantly face from the media. The growing shadow of ignorance can be lifted for the next generation if we allow such voices to be heard in your classroom.