A minority religion is a
religion held by a
minority
Minority may refer to:
Politics
* Minority government, formed when a political party does not have a majority of overall seats in parliament
* Minority leader, in American politics, the floor leader of the second largest caucus in a legislative b ...
of the population of a country, state, or region. Minority religions may be subject to
stigma or
discrimination
Discrimination is the act of making unjustified distinctions between people based on the groups, classes, or other categories to which they belong or are perceived to belong. People may be discriminated on the basis of race, gender, age, relig ...
. An example of a stigma is using the term
cult
In modern English, ''cult'' is usually a pejorative term for a social group that is defined by its unusual religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs and rituals, or its common interest in a particular personality, object, or goal. This ...
with its extremely negative connotations for certain
new religious movements.
People who belong to a minority religion may be subject to discrimination and prejudice, especially when the religious differences correlate with
ethnic differences.
Laws are made in some countries to protect the rights of religious minorities, such as protecting the minorities' culture and to promote harmony with the majority.
See also
*
Minority group
*
Religious minorities in Greece
*
Religious minorities in India
*
Religious minorities in Iran
*
Religious minorities in Iraq
*
Religious minorities in Pakistan
*
Religious minorities in Turkey
Minorities in Turkey form a substantial part of the country's population, representing an estimated 26% to 31% of the population.
Historically, in the Ottoman Empire, Islam was the official and dominant religion, with Muslims having different d ...
References
Minorities
Religion and politics
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