A PERSPECTIVE FROM UNIVERSITY TEACHERS AND STUDENTS ON RELIGIOUS INTOLERANT BEHAVIOR

Abstract

Religious intolerance arises when individuals or groups refuse to accept and respect the religious beliefs, practices, or convictions of others. It involves denying the right of another person or religious group to express their faith freely. This research article aimed to elicit university teachers' and students' thoughts on increased intolerance and polarisation in and out of learning centers. The research study comprised university teachers and students from four universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This research used a case study design because it was qualitative. Four teachers and four students from each university were interviewed using deliberate sampling to collect data. Data was gathered by using a self-developed interview protocol. Thematic analysis, comprising questions about religious dialogue, religious conflict resolution, and the causes of religious intolerance, came after the data analysis. Teachers placed a strong emphasis on critical thinking. They felt avoiding religious conflicts is preferable if one lacks background knowledge when responding to questions about religious discussions with peers. However, university students believed we could promote religious tolerance by accepting others' beliefs and having an open forum.