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Religion and Ethnic Diversity
Culture Diversity

June 2, 2013

June 2, 2013

Religious Group
Jehovah Witness

The religious group Jehovah’s Witness was founded in the 1870s by Charles Taze Russell; he believed that hell did not exist. Jehovah’s Witness also believe in the end of times and Armageddon. Jehovah’s Witness reject the cross because to them the cross represents a fertility symbol; they do not wear crosses nor print the cross on their bibles. “Although Jehovah’s Witnesses identify themselves as comprising a Christian denomination, other groups regard them as a cult that stands outside orthodox Christianity.” (Sharpe, 2010, p. 1)
There are other religious groups like the Roman Catholics that believe in forgiveness of sin with a church ritual through confession with help from a priest, the Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) believe that Jesus Christ is the savior of the world; he is the only way to return to the heavenly Father. Mormons believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for the sins of the world. Hinduism believe in reincarnation and Karma which tells a person’s destiny in the life they are living now and in the next life.
The beliefs and views of the Jehovah’s Witness is not shared by everyone. “In the precedent-setting 1944 Prince v. Massachusetts decision, which involved a Jehovah's Witness, the court ruled that a child's welfare trumps the religious beliefs of the parents.” (Goodenow, 2009, p. 1) The Judge believed that the parents could follow their religion beliefs however, it does not give them the right to “expose the community or child to communicable disease, or latter to ill health or death.” (Goodenow, 2009, p. 1)
Jehovah’s Witness has contributed to the American culture by displaying freedom of speech and religious freedom. Jehovah’s Witness from around the world made an impact by helping others in need; they assisted during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Tropical Storm Allison in 2001, and the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001. The Famous celebrities like Michael and Janet Jackson were Jehovah’s Witnesses. The tennis players Venus and Serena Williams are also Witnesses. All of these celebrities were raised as Witnesses or are still active Jehovah’s Witnesses; they along with the religion that they choose has made an impact on American culture by entertaining and inspiring many through freedom of speech and religious freedom.
Subsequently, the religious group Jehovah Witness has experienced discrimination. One of the examples of discrimination/prejudice is when “individual groups of local Nazis (party functionaries or SA men), acting outside the law, broke up Bible study meetings and assaulted individual Witnesses.” (Museum, 2013, p. 1) There another case of discrimination/prejudice where “jury verdict of $756,000 in a religious discrimination lawsuit brought against AT&T Inc. on behalf of two male customer service technicians who were suspended and fired for attending a Jehovah’s Witnesses Convention.” (Commission, 2007, p. 1) In both cases there was obvious religious discrimination in the examples mentioned. Reading about the religious group Jehovah’s Witness was helpful in learning to respect others regardless of the preferences of religion that people choose.

Racial/Ethnic group Asian (Asian descent)

The Asians and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) consist of “Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Asian Indian, Korean, and Vietnamese.” (Chen & Hsu, 2002, p. 1) There is over 400 hundred different languages spoken in this race/ethnicity; to mention a few some languages spoken are English, Hindu, Arabic, and Urdu.
The Asian race/ethnicity has contributed to the American culture with the different unique taste of Asian style food that is found in supermarkets and American restaurants. This race/ethnicity group has influenced American culture through martial arts and the martial art films.
Asian Americans were denied equal rights and were targets for many hate crimes. Two White men lost their job so they beat to death Vincent Chin in 1982 blaming him and Japanese automakers for the recession. (Le, 2013, p. 1) One other example of prejudice of discrimination among Asians is “In one case, a Vietnamese American male was told that “Asians are the new Whites.” (Sue, 2009, p. 94) The Asian women feel like there are sex objects; “Asian American women are relegated to an exotic category. (Sue, 2009, p. 94) The Asian Americans have endured racial discrimination from other ethnic backgrounds and had to fight for their equal rights. The reading about Asian Americans has this helped to understand that many Americans rights violated.
As a result, the prejudice and discrimination experienced by Asians and Jehovah’s Witness are similar because both groups had to fight for equal rights and freedom of speech and both groups were victims of hate crimes. The groups only difference in discrimination and prejudice is that one group is about a religion, and the other is about a race; they both experienced discrimination and prejudice.

References
Chen, T., & Hsu, C.-c. (2002). Encyclopedia of Public Health. Retrieved June 2, 2013, from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3404000068.html
Commission, U. E. (2007, October 23). AT&T TO PAY $756,000 FOR RELIGIOUS BIAS AGAINST JEHOVAH’S WITNESSE. Retrieved June 2, 2013, from www.eeoc.gov: http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/10-23-07.cfm
Goodenow, E. (2009, May 28). Jehovah's Witness baby gets blood substitute. McClatchy - Tribune Business News. Retrieved June 2, 2013, from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/docview/455828929?accountid=35812
Le, C. (2013). "Anti-Asian Racism & Violence" Asian-Nation: The Landscape of Asian America. Retrieved June 2, 2013, from www.asian-nation.org: http://www.asian-nation.org/racism.shtml
Museum, U. S. (2013). Jehovah's Witnesses: Persecution 1870–1936. Retrieved June 2, 2013, from www.ushmm.org: http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005433
Sharpe, M. (2010, October 1). Jehovah’s Witnesses from Culture Wars: An Encyclopedia of Issues, Viewpoints, and Voices:. Retrieved June 2, 2013, from www.credoreference.com: http://www.credoreference.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/entry/sharpecw/jehovah_s_witnesses>.
Sue, D. W. (2009). Racial microaggressions and the Asian American experience. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 88-101. Retrieved June 2, 2013