Religious Freedom and High context cultures
This is a helpful and interesting discussion of the problems related to religious freedom in Middle Eastern and South Asian countries.
https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2019/july/mecca-declaration-dignity-religious-freedom-ministerial-dc.html
It causes me to understand a bit more about why religious freedom is not a given in those countries. Not that I agree or appreciate it, just have a tad more understanding. If one values tradition and a traditional morality (although we could debate those moral standards, specifically treatment of women), complete religious freedom may seem like a license. However, these folks look at the sexual profligacy of the West and tend to equate it with our emphasis on freedom, including freedom of religion (and perhaps they have a point!). They are high context and collectivistic and desire to preserve traditions that have served them, or at least they have held on to, for generations. We value something different; a higher law, perhaps, to the self or in the Christian case, to God, above tradition.
The article explains it better than I do.
https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2019/july/mecca-declaration-dignity-religious-freedom-ministerial-dc.html
It causes me to understand a bit more about why religious freedom is not a given in those countries. Not that I agree or appreciate it, just have a tad more understanding. If one values tradition and a traditional morality (although we could debate those moral standards, specifically treatment of women), complete religious freedom may seem like a license. However, these folks look at the sexual profligacy of the West and tend to equate it with our emphasis on freedom, including freedom of religion (and perhaps they have a point!). They are high context and collectivistic and desire to preserve traditions that have served them, or at least they have held on to, for generations. We value something different; a higher law, perhaps, to the self or in the Christian case, to God, above tradition.
The article explains it better than I do.
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