Zlatiborka Popov,

University of Serbian Sarajevo

Religion and Tolerance

Summary

The aim of this work was to point out at the, so many time considered connection between religion and tolerance. In theoretical part, the stress was laid on the problem of tolerance in the so called religions of book (Christianity, Judaism, Islam) within the context of contemporary process of globalization, establishing of national states and status of religious minorities (first of all Islam) within the contemporary secular democratic state. In the empirical part, we have wanted to check whether certain groups of population (in this work divided in religious and non-religious) perceive this connection between religious teaching, religious affiliation and tolerance. The research has shown that both groups point out at the significance of this connection, yet religious (in this research they are mostly Orthodox Cristians) apsolutize this connection, neglect the importance of social structure within this connection takes place, and consider Islam and small religious communities as significantly intolerate, which have also contributed and contribute upmostly to conflicts. Non-religious confirm this connection yet in relative sence, and consider that all religious communities have equally contributed to conflicts. It is characteristic that non-religious show high intolerance toward small religious communities as well.

Key-words: religion, tolerance, church, state, religious, non-religious