The New Religious Intolerance : Overcoming the Politics of Fear in an Anxious Age

What impulse prompted some newspapers to attribute the murder of 77 Norwegians to Islamic extremists, until it became evident that a right-wing Norwegian terrorist was the perpetrator? Why did Switzerland, a country of four minarets, vote to ban those structures? How did a proposed Muslim cultural center in lower Manhattan ignite a fevered political debate across the United States? In __The New Religious Intolerance,__ Martha C. Nussbaum surveys such developments and identifies the fear behind these reactions. Drawing inspiration from philosophy, history, and literature, she suggests a route past this limiting response and toward a more equitable, imaginative, and free society. Fear, Nussbaum writes, is "more narcissistic than other emotions." Legitimate anxieties become distorted and displaced, driving laws and policies biased against those different from us. Overcoming intolerance requires consistent application of universal principles of respect for conscience. Just as important, it requires greater understanding. Nussbaum challenges us to embrace freedom of religious observance for all, extending to others what we demand for ourselves. She encourages us to expand our capacity for empathetic imagination by cultivating our curiosity, seeking friendship across religious lines, and establishing a consistent ethic of decency and civility. With this greater understanding and respect, Nussbaum argues, we can rise above the politics of fear and toward a more open and inclusive future.

What impulse prompted some newspapers to attribute the murder of 77 Norwegians to Islamic extremists, until it became evident that a right-wing Norwegian terrorist was the perpetrator? Why did Switzerland, a country of four minarets, vote to ban those structures? How did a proposed Muslim cultural center in lower Manhattan ignite a fevered political debate across the United States? In The New Religious Intolerance, Martha C. Nussbaum surveys such developments and identifies the fear behind these reactions. Drawing inspiration from philosophy, history, and literature, she suggests a route past this limiting response and toward a more equitable, imaginative, and free society.

Fear, Nussbaum writes, is "more narcissistic than other emotions." Legitimate anxieties become distorted and displaced, driving laws and policies biased against those different from us. Overcoming intolerance requires consistent application of universal principles of respect for conscience. Just as important, it requires greater understanding. Nussbaum challenges us to embrace freedom of religious observance for all, extending to others what we demand for ourselves. She encourages us to expand our capacity for empathetic imagination by cultivating our curiosity, seeking friendship across religious lines, and establishing a consistent ethic of decency and civility. With this greater understanding and respect, Nussbaum argues, we can rise above the politics of fear and toward a more open and inclusive future.

Main description: What impulse prompted some newspapers to attribute the murder of 77 Norwegians to Islamic extremists, until it became evident that a right-wing Norwegian terrorist was the perpetrator? Why did Switzerland, a country of four minarets, vote to ban those structures? How did a proposed Muslim cultural center in lower Manhattan ignite a fevered political debate across the United States? In The New Religious Intolerance, Martha C. Nussbaum surveys such developments and identifies the fear behind these reactions. Drawing inspiration from philosophy, history, and literature, she suggests a route past this limiting response and toward a more equitable, imaginative, and free society. Fear, Nussbaum writes, is 0more narcissistic than other emotions.0 Legitimate anxieties become distorted and displaced, driving laws and policies biased against those different from us. Overcoming intolerance requires consistent application of universal principles of respect for conscience. Just as important, it requires greater understanding. Nussbaum challenges us to embrace freedom of religious observance for all, extending to others what we demand for ourselves. She encourages us to expand our capacity for empathetic imagination by cultivating our curiosity, seeking friendship across religious lines, and establishing a consistent ethic of decency and civility. With this greater understanding and respect, Nussbaum argues, we can rise above the politics of fear and toward a more open and inclusive future Nowa nietolerancja religijna zostaa napisana przez Marth C. Nussbaum w dziesi lat po atakach na Wolrd Trade Center. Jej gwnym tematem jest wolno mniejszoci oraz lk przed islamem, ktry od lat ronie wrd mieszkacw zachodniego wiata. Nussbaum opisuje kulturow i polityczn histori rozszerzania si wolnoci religijnej na Zachodzie oraz rozwaa najbardziej palce spory na temat obecnoci innych kultury i religii w Europie i USA (spr o minarety w Szwajcarii, spr o burk we Francji i Belgii). Jako spadkobierczyni myli Johna Rawlsa robi to z pozycji tradycji liberalnej, kadc z jednej strony nacisk na neutralno religijn pastwa, z drugiej na potrzeb zachowania szacunku dla religijnych przekona innych obywateli i wyksztacenie w sobie wspczujcej wyobrani. *** Kiedy, wcale nie tak dawno temu, Amerykanie i Europejczycy chlubili si swoj owiecon postaw religijnej tolerancji i zrozumienia. Cho dla kadego byo jasne, e histori Zachodu znamionoway silna religijna wrogo i przemoc, Europa jeszcze do niedawna lubowaa si w myleniu, e te mroczne czasy odeszy w przeszo. Obecnie mamy wiele powodw, aby powtpiewa w t pen zadowolenia samoocen. Znalelimy si w sytuacji, ktra wymaga od nas natychmiastowego przeprowadzenia krytycznego rachunku sumienia, po to aby ujawni rdo niewygodnych strachw i podejrze, gnbicych obecnie wszystkie spoeczestwa Zachodu. Drawing inspiration from philosophy, history, and literature, Martha C. Nussbaum takes us to task for our religious intolerance, identifies the fear behind it, and offers a way past fear toward a more equitable, imaginative, and free society, through the consistent application of universal principles of respect for conscience. Religion: a time of anxiety and suspicion Fear: a narcissistic emotion First principles: equal respect for conscience The mote in my brother's eye: impartiality and the examined life Inner eyes: respect and the sympathetic imagination The case of Park51 Overcoming the politics of fear. The Author Identifies The Fear Behind Intolerant Reactions And Drawing Inspiration From Philosophy, History, And Literature, She Suggests A Route Toward A More Equitable, Imaginative And Free Society.