Religious Diversity And Social Integration In Pakistan
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Abstract
Religion is an essential part of every human’s belief, behavior, ethics, and culture. It helps them to cope with adversity and tragedy and provides hope that things will get better. Many cross-cultural studies have revealed that religion performs different important functions in human society, including explanatory, emotional, social, and ecological functions. Religious commitment is a comprehensive sociological term that can be defined as the quality of being religious. It is closely connected with both the belief and conduct and is intimately related to life's moral, political, and aesthetic dimensions. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan occupies a unique position among Muslim states, insofar so that it was founded primarily for religious considerations. The population of Pakistan is religiously diverse, as its citizens adhere to different religions like Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Ahmadis, scheduled casts, and other religions like Zoroastrianism (Parsis), Sikhism, Bahaism, Zikri’s, and Shaman traditions of Himalaya. Pakistanis are sensitive in keeping to themselves their religious identities. It is thus significant to study the religious commitment of different religious communities in Pakistan.