Olsen|1

Zaylie Olsen

Prof. Wijitha Bandara

E-portfolio essay

8 December 2017

Rohingya Issue

Religion is complex to define because it encompasses multiple different elements, which

in turn may include or omit many different definitions or manner. However, because it is so

complex it would be quintessential to use multiple different definitions discussed by a plethora of

scholars. Functionalists view the effect of religion and how it impacts our society. The

materialistic view rejects the spiritual side of religion because it cannot be explained by physics

and its laws. In variance of the other two definitions the faith aspect shows the benefits and and

usefulness of religion. 1

On August 25, 2017 violence broke out in the state of Rakhine, when government forces

were attacked by militants. Security forces that were supported by Buddhists responded by

launching a clearance operation that has killed at least one thousand people and has left more

than 300,000 homeless, because of the need to flee. On September 11, the UNs top human rights

official said that the response from the military was clearly disproportionate to insurgent

attacks and warned Myanmars treatment of the Rohingya minority appears to be a perfect

example of ethnic cleansing. 2

1
Zaylie Olsen, What is Religion? Utah; pargh 1
2
Rebecca Ratcliffe, Who are the Rohingya and what is happening in Myanmar?; pargh 4
 Olsen|2

There have been reports from refugees of massacres in villages where soldiers raided and

burned down homes. On the opposite side, the government claims that the Rohingya have burned

down homes and killed Hindus and Buddhists. 3

The Myanmar government says that it is targeting militants who are responsible for the

attacks on the security forces and that they majority of those killed have been terrorists. Some

reports also say that the Rohingya are burning down their own villages. 4

3
IBID, pargh 5
4
IBID, pargh 14