I found Appiah’s views of cosmopolitanism to be very intriguing. His views remind me of religious pluralism, where people are willing and able to accept one another despite religious differences. He makes some very good points about how Muslims and Christians have very different views about who should be worshiped, and what is important in religion, whether it be going to Mecca or going to mass. The real issue is if we as a human race can learn to let people believe whatever they feel works for them, without judging them and forcing our beliefs, whatever they may be, upon someone else. This is what I understood Cosmopolitanism to be.
Appiah states in his first chapter that human beings are different, and we should learn from one another. I agree with him whole-heartedly. If we, as a humans, could learn to break down the barriers of religion and learn to accept each other on a human level and see that we all have something in common, then we would not have all of the problems we have today. Appiah also says that real disagreements often arise from religion, which supports the reason why religious pluralism is a good concept to embrace.
According to Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad in her essay, Claiming Muslim Space in America’s Pluralism, she says, “The mission for Muslims in the world is to combat un-Islamic orders and not to compromise with them.” This puts the idea of religious pluralism in a tough and awkward position. According to this quote, religious pluralism and the act of accepting other people and cultures that believe anything other than the Muslim faith is against the Muslim religion. How do we embrace religious pluralism when it can force a particular group of people to go against what they believe?
This is what makes this topic such a difficult one for us to figure out here is America where people have religious freedom. People have the right to believe whatever they want, and it is unconstitutional for us to force people to be pluralistic. In my opinion, the best way to go about this is to educate the masses about acceptance and tolerance. We do not have to force people around us to agree with what we believe, but we can teach people about tolerance.
Works Cited:
Haddad, Yvonne Yazbeck. "Claiming Muslim Space in America's Pluralism." Critical Issues in American Religious History. Waco, Texas: Baylor University Press, 2001. 785-795. Print.
I agree that tolerance and acceptance needs to be taught to everyone, worldwide, starting at a young age. Children especially are easily influenceed, and if we allow only parents views to be placed on their children without any outside knowledge or experience, we can expect discrimination and violence to continue.
ReplyDeleteI agree as well. Not embracing tolerance has always been one of this country's greatest problems.
ReplyDeleteAs a future teacher, I am always intersted to know what coming up in the world of education. I've recently learned that a group is lobbying to have a sort "tolerence" subject placed within all elementary school curriculums. It would teach children to be open and accepting to others. I believe the main topics are religon and homosexuality.
While I believe it will be a while before this becomes a reality (if it will at all), I hope this comes to frutation. People fear what they don't understand and by assuring children that are exposed to cosmopolitan outlook of life is just what we need.
I think tolerance and pluralism do not go together. They contradict each other. Well, thats only my opinion. To me, tolerance requires disagreement; one can only tolerate what one believes to be in error. Tolerance, as described in class, does not necessarily mean acceptance of a certain belief. In religious pluralism, one denies that any religion is in error. therefore inconsistent with the virtue of tolerance.
ReplyDeleteI also have to agree that humans are different and should learn from one another, but again, we learned that we all draw a line somewhere when it comes to beliefs and tolerance. Tolerance is needed in the world for it to function, and while we are a long way off from the idea of cosmopolitanism (because we are only human), there is always time for change through new ideas.
ReplyDeleteIsn't religious pluralism the idea of different religions having the ability to live among one another even though they do not agree with one another? If so I have to agree that this nation needs to embrace the concept of tolerance more, I don't think civilizations can exist if there isn't an ability to find a balance between disagreements.
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