migration & multicultural societies

Answer 1

• made up of many different cultures which may include different nationalities. beliefs, values & social customs
• some see it as a threat to core national values which would be destructive to national identity
• people argue britain was a christian country with its values in christianity
• there had already been jews in the country but the influx of hindus, buddhists, muslims & sikhs after war made multiculturalism more visible

Question 2

examples of migration to britain - post ww2

Answer 2

• many from eastern europe migrated to uk from countries becoming part of soviet stae
• following indian independence in 1947 increasing numbers of indians & pakistanis entered in uk

Question 3

religious freedom as a human right in european law - article 18

Answer 3

• universal declaration of human rights
• everyone has right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion
• this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief either alone or in a community

Question 4

religious freedom as a human right in european law - comment 22

Answer 4

• clarifies that the protection given by article 18 applies to theistic, non-theistic & athiest beliefs as well as right to not profess any religion or belief

Question 5

religious freedom as a human right in european law - british law

Answer 5

• uk is a signatory to the european convention on human rights which in article 9 includes freedom of thought, conscience & religion
• against law to prohibit/restrict the practise of religions so allows religious pluralism
• against law to do/say anything likely to incite violence/racial hatred

Question 6

positive aspects of religious pluralism as feature of secular states

Answer 6

• mutual engagement & dialouge & society is richer for having cultural diversity
• opposes idea that people should be deprived of the opportunity to express their cultural heritage
• assumes all religions are to be respected, celebrated & understood as having intrinsic value

Question 7

potential problems of religious pluralism of modern secular states

Answer 7

• may lead to tensions or conflict
• those opposing it say there’s no agreed scheme of thought which all agree which is dangerous as society will lack cohesion
• immigrant communities can become increasingly isolated & subject to popular discrimination
• multiculturalism assumes no single culture can claim to be the best but religion based on conviction that what if offer is best form of life

Question 8

issues regarding cultural practises vs religious practises

Answer 8

• forced marriage is forcing a young person/couple into marriage without their consent & is a common practise in many religions for parents to arrange marriages for their sons & daughters
• have choice to accept or reject
• but in some faiths they don’t have the choice to reject so are forced into it
• society says its illegal as goes against values of british society
• few argue that both are cultural expressions within specific religious communities & claim it should be allowed and is discussion for religion not secular law
• more cultural than religious as goes against religious teachings of all mainstream religions

Question 9

dilemmas faced by a thinking person in a multi-faith world

Answer 9

• if someone has 100% certainty in their religious beliefs are they able to accept their views may be open to challenge
• if someone has no religious beliefs can they accept they may be wrong
• each religion is self-validating
• assumption that reason takes priority over religious teaching & experience & a religious person may not be willing to accept this

Question 10

the relative & absolute

Answer 10

• some are absolutist & some are relativist
• when absolutist they insist there’s a right view & a wrong view
• when relativist the rightness/wrongness depends on where you stand
• religion tends to be absolute in its claims & people will be expelled for ‘wrong’ beliefs & at one time would’ve been tortured and killed for such
• so religions likely to develop an ‘us/them’ attitude

Question 11

diversity of faiths in britain today

Answer 11

• 2011 census - 59.3% christianity, 25.1% no religion, 4.8% islam. 1.5% hindu, 0.5% judaism
• presence of many different faiths in uk more obvious in some areas than others as when groups of people first migrated they settled in places close to one another

Question 12

religious pluralism as feature of modern secular state

Answer 12

• in modern western cultures rather than lead to conflict it develops into multi-culturalism
• idea is view that all cultures are to be respected, celebrated
• should be mutual engagement and dialogue and it creates a richer society
• opposes idea that any culture should have another imposed on it
• a problem is that multiculturalism assumes no single culture can claim to be the best but religion is based on the conviction that what they offer is the best form of life
• multiculturalism does raise issues for social workers as may be afraid to challenge cultural practises that are harmful as don’t want to be racist

Question 13

influence on christian thought

Answer 13

• gives sense of belonging to a world community than just a local one as may share holidays/traditions with others
• need to examine own faith & attitude to others
• problem is humans have a need for certainty which is why religions are so appealing as offer absolute moral principles and so in a multicultural society where there’s numerous religions offering certainty it may cause a problem
• are they prepared for views to be scrutinised or challenged?