REACTION PAPER #2: Religious Oppression

HLTH 1110-March 4, 2016

By Greg Sego
Being raised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in a small town in
rural Utah, I thought I knew a lot about religious privilege and
discrimination. All my neighbors were of the same religion, and that
religion was different than mine--a fact that I was aware even before
entering elementary school. Utah is getting more diversified (even in
the rurals); but during my growing up years, the people in the area I
lived were predominantly Latter Day Saints, or Mormons (it wouldn't be
an exaggeration to say at least 90% predominant). Ironically, the
textbook lists Jehovah's Witness and Mormons, as non-Protestant
Christian groups that experience hostility from the "more dominant"
Protestant Christian groups. Both groups are still considered by many
as sects that are not "truly" Christian. Also, both are largely
misunderstood and have many stereotypes assigned to them.
After reading the section in the textbook on religious oppression,
I realize that I was subjected to a lot of religious hegemony. School
teachers would address the class in such a way that precluded much, if
any, religious diversity. Utah, a state that was settled and populated
by one religion, has struggled to keep church and state separate.
Nobody can deny that the laws and regulations of our state have been
shaped by the views of the predominant religion. One example is the
regulation of alcohol sales and rules of serving it (I remember a time
when you could not purchase alcohol of any kind on Sunday, even at
gas stations).
Religion is a powerful influence in people's lives, but add to that a
cultural phenomena where the majority of a large region are but one,
single religion, you get an interesting study in socialization. My mother
was raised LDS; she recalls being a girl and thinking that everyone was
her religion, even the people on TV. An environment without diversity
does not always know how to react to diversity. At seeing a welldressed, clean cut young man, many people assumed that I was of the
dominant faith. I was always entertained by the bewildered looks I
would get from sincere people that could not "add up" why an
intelligent person, that studied LDS teachings and was surrounded by
beautiful, large church buildings and temples, could choose to be
another faith. I've had some people be condescending, become
uncomfortable around me, or act as if they feel sorry for me (a lost
sheep). I also have seen religous dominant privilege in action--from
small things like "Missionary discounts" that only applied to one faith,

to justifying targeting ones of different religions as "othered."

Does this mean that I was oppressed, ridiculed, or bullied? Not
really. There was the occasional off-comment or remark that showed a
lack of understanding on the part of ignorant people, but overall I
never felt oppressed. I was never expelled from school for not placing
my hand on my heart and reciting the "pledge of allegianc," or forced
to craft a Christmas tree ornament during the holidays (actions that
would be incongruous with the beliefs of my religion). I can say that I
felt "othered," but I have witnessed an evolution in our society of
increasing acceptance towards religious diversity (and I have been a
beneficiary of this change).
I am sure that my family had a lot to do with how I viewed being
a religious minority. Jehovah's Witnesses tend to "own" being
different--I was educated at an early age, not only how we were
different, but the reasons why. I had siblings, relatives, and others that
went to our small congregation that filled any social void. Religion was
a family affair--I often studied the Bible together, prayed together,
went out in the ministry and to meetings and conventions together
(both with my immediate and extended family). I am still amazed at
the faith of my grandparents, how it shaped their lives, and how their
lives affected us. This highlights the value of having a clear identity; it
empowers you to survive be "othered" without being bitter. Also, being
part of a community (whether it be a religious organization or other
group with whom you identify) is important--it is true that no person is
an 'island'; the support of our group props us up and secures us during
times of distress and oppression.
As I stated at the beginning, through my personal experience of
being a religious minority and my study of religion, I thought I knew
alot about religious oppression. However, the discussions and readings
regarding religious oppression in this class have opened my eyes to
ways in which Christian hegemony affects us all. In class, we identified
different religious groups, and discussed what we knew about them; I
was surpised with how little I could come up with about Hindu, Taoism,
and other religions (I guess I had fallen into the trap of lumping them
all together as Eastern religions). I wrote a research paper on Islam-increasing my understanding about this often misrepresented faith has
given me more appreciation for the challenges they face living in the
United States after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Representatives are
constantly defending and educating the public about what it means to
be Muslim. Looking at their core beliefs, I can see why many would be
attracted to Islam as a means to satisfy their spiritual needs.
As our country gets more diversified and the world "gets
smaller," so to speak, we need to be more accommodating. The book
encouraged dialogue, a means of communication, understanding, and

problem solving, and building that promotes diversity. In order to be

successful, we must make all parties in a dialogue feel empowered and
address their needs. Incorporating religious diversity into our social
justice efforts will make for a more peaceable and happy society.

CITED WORKS
Adams, Maurianne. Readings for Diversity and Social Justice. Print.