4.4

In this lesson, I learned is that there are many sides and definitions of religious nationalism. A collection of people belonging to a nation, the added term “real” changed things up for me. Just hearing how Megan and Ilyse present the topic really shifted the tone of this word. It really separated the physical nation idea from a collection of people, stating that nationalism can be connected to “race, ethnicity, and religion.”

Religious Nationalism specifically interacts with Islamaphobia. Muslims are seen as outsiders and are stereotyped with massively negative consequences. Laws and practices in place from past lessons, such as travel bans to the past lesson idea of intolerance all go to highlight the discrimination against Muslims. This stereotypical profile of Muslims as violent is used for the purpose of power, and this is dangerous to Muslims and associated cultures as they are wrongfully villainized.

Hearing about the emergence of Islamophobia I felt was perhaps one of the most important points of this lesson. It opened my eyes to the modern associations and antagonizing uses of this phobia. I want to further educate myself as this practice is horrible and wrong.