Questions of exclusivity and chosenness are closely intertwined with national and religious affiliation, as they are often used to designate a specific group as possessing unique qualities that place it above others.

Exclusivity and Chosenness: Ideological Tools in Dividing Society

Questions of exclusivity and chosenness are closely intertwined with national and religious affiliation, as they are often used to designate a specific group as possessing unique qualities that place it above others. This distinction can manifest both through claims of superiority and through the denial of the value of other cultural or religious traditions.

For example, one source raises the idea that sermons based on the doctrine of “racial, religious, national exclusivity” are capable of inflaming public passions.

The author questions whether future society will be able to remain neutral towards such speeches, considering that such rhetoric might be regarded as an expression of fascist ideals:"Can we hope that future society will not implement decisive measures against the preachers of 'racial, religious, national exclusivity'?

..." (source: link txt)

Additionally, in analyzing the activities of certain religious organizations, it is noted that the use of exclusivity leads to the incitement of interreligious and national hatred. In particular, it is highlighted that the propaganda of an organization’s uniqueness is accompanied by slander, accusations, and threats directed at other religions, which ultimately fuels a sense of superiority and hostility:
"By declaring themselves as a 'religious organization', 'Jehovah’s Witnesses' display a particular hatred precisely towards religions and specifically towards those that have a long history and a well-founded cultural basis... The consequence of such a stance and its relentless propaganda is the incitement of religious and national hatred." (source: link txt)

Moreover, expert conclusions add to the picture by emphasizing that this propagandistic use of the concept of exclusivity not only distinguishes the chosen group but also weakens social unity by setting it in opposition to members of other faiths:
"In the Conclusion of Expertise No. 5, the expert states, 'Without exaggeration one can say that the propaganda of the exclusivity of the members of the 'Jehovah’s Witnesses' organization, along with the portrayal of representatives of other faiths as inferior and deficient, as well as the incitement of religious hostility, is constantly present in many periodicals...'" (source: link txt)

The historical perspective is also interesting: to achieve significant societal transformations, it was necessary to abandon the idea of national or church exclusivity. Such a renunciation was viewed as an essential step in establishing modern order and spiritual renewal, where open contact with external influences played a decisive role:
"And just as those two initial endeavors—the establishment of state order and the promotion of education—could only be accomplished by renouncing national exclusivity and isolation, only by allowing the free and open influence of external forces... so now, for the spiritual renewal of Russia, it is necessary to renounce church exclusivity and isolation..." (source: link txt)

Finally, another approach is demonstrated in one text that emphasizes the universality of the religious message, rejecting the idea of national or religious chosenness. It asserts that the core teaching does not permit inherent exclusivity, but rather proclaims the equality of all peoples before the religious ideal:
"Christ came for all peoples, and all peoples have their fate and their share before the judgment of Christian consciousness. Christianity does not allow for national exclusivity or national pride..." (source: link txt)

Thus, issues of exclusivity and chosenness—closely linked to national and religious identity—are used as ideological tools to foster a sense of one group’s superiority over another. Such rhetoric is capable not only of strengthening intragroup cohesion but also of contributing to societal division, provoking conflicts on interethnic and interconfessional grounds.

Supporting citation(s):
"Can we hope that future society will not implement decisive measures against the preachers of 'racial, religious, national exclusivity'? ..." (source: link txt)
"By declaring themselves as a 'religious organization', 'Jehovah’s Witnesses' display a particular hatred precisely towards religions and specifically towards those that have a long history and a well-founded cultural basis... The consequence of such a stance and its relentless propaganda is the incitement of religious and national hatred." (source: link txt)
"In the Conclusion of Expertise No. 5, the expert states, 'Without exaggeration one can say that the propaganda of the exclusivity of the members of the 'Jehovah’s Witnesses' organization... falls within the incitement of religious hostility and the promotion of their own superiority.'" (source: link txt)
"And just as those two initial endeavors—the establishment of state order and the promotion of education—could only be accomplished by renouncing national exclusivity and isolation... so now, for the spiritual renewal of Russia, it is necessary to renounce church exclusivity and isolation..." (source: link txt)
"Christ came for all peoples, and all peoples have their fate and their share before the judgment of Christian consciousness. Christianity does not allow for national exclusivity or national pride..." (source: link txt)