Race, Religion, Ethnicity, or Culture - Cooper Hardy

     Religion is always a major part of culture and the identity of a specific group of people. While here in Morocco, I have identified that the religion is Islam is a massive part of the country's identity, being as it is the designated religion of the country. The U.S. Department of State has estimated that of the 37.4 million people in the country, over 99% are Sunni Muslim, and the other 1% consists of groups of Christians, Jews, Shia Muslims, and followers of the Baha’i Faith. (U.S. Department of State, 2024) This naturally means that the minority group of faiths becomes a designated out-group. 

    However, I have come to understand that the culture of Moroccans is synonymous with hospitality, and despite the religious differences of people, they still make conscious efforts to be inclusive to other religions. This is evident by the archaeology we saw at the Hassan II Mosque on Monday. Our tour guide explained to us that the three large balls at the top of the minaret represent the three major religions of Morocco, which are Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. I thought it was beautiful how they created architecture in one of the largest mosques on the continent to represent other religions. 

    In America, there is a wide diversity of religions, but more specifically, where I am from in the south is majority Christian. While I grew up a follower of the Christian faith, I have since found myself distant from religion, partially because of the way some people treat followers of other religions. I found it silly to ostracize someone because of their beliefs, and I have always felt that I could learn important aspects of spirituality and compassion from other religions. I have always believed in treating people equally despite ideological differences, and this is something that I have noticed is quite regular here in Morocco. But as a leader, I think it is always possible to learn things from other religions, and this could be true of the people here in Morocco. Since over 99% of the population is muslim, they may not know accurate information about other religions. Education about other religious practices could be taught to children to ensure that future generations are informed about other religions and religious practices around the world. Along with this, it is illegal in the country of Morocco to convert a Muslim to another religion or hand out Evangelical literature. (gov.uk)  I do think that it is very important for the Muslim community of Morocco to remain autonomous and not be pressured by people to convert to their religion, and I understand why the laws are in place to protect their status. But I think this only creates further division between the in-group and the out-group because of specialized treatment.

U.S. Department of State. (2024). 2023 report on international religious freedom: Morocco. https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-report-on-international-religious-freedom/morocco/

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. (n.d.). Morocco travel advice: Safety and security. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/morocco/safety-and-security