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RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE IN THE SKOPJE: THE CASE OF FOUR MUNICIPALITIES

Ali Pajaziti

Abstract

Tolerance is one of the values that is becoming more and more important in different world agendas, especially at a time when theories of conflicts between cultures, civilizations and religions are being furiously propagated, and when the world is facing a multidimensional crisis. Today, tolerance is needed as air. Its spirit should be distributed in all dimensions of life, it must "be applied as a principle in education; we need to build generations in conjunction with this crucial value. [6, p. 109] This paper is an integral part of the project "Imam or the priest? Whoever, just in the role of peace!", which was realized by the ZIP Institute and the Macedonian Centre for International Cooperation (MCIC), supported by CIVICA Mobilitas. The purpose of this research is to obtain statistically valid data on the perceptions and attitudes of the members of different religious communities about the degree of mutual religious tolerance and the contribution of clerics of both religions (Orthodox Christianity and Islam) in the direction of preserving the traditional spirit of tolerance (which is rooted in the so-called Ottoman multiculturalism) in this region, but also in the improvement of interreligious and intercultural relations, in raising the awareness of coexistence, strengthening of social peace and the proper transmission of positive messages through religious rituals, public appearances, interviews, etc. Empirical evidence was gathered in four municipalities, Saraj, Gjorche Petrov, Butel and Çair. The survey was conducted online, with 330 respondents, based on different indicators such as gender, age, ethnicity, religious affiliation and profession. The majority of respondents (64.5%) said that social welfare depends on the tolerance of religious otherness – a percentage that is in correlation with a large group which supported the proposition that others have the right to follow their beliefs regardless of their religious content. Religious symbols are perceived affirmatively. Clergymen and municipalities have to do more in promoting mutual tolerance and dialogue.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgemsocial2018/3.3/S12.086

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