(June 22, 2015 at 5:08 am)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: Stipulate for the nonce that religion is the cause of racism, instead of (as seems more likely) a cause. Would a society in which religion had never arisen be completely free of racism? The notion seems so far-fetched as to make the original premise absurd. Furthermore, it seems plain that tribalism antedates religion.
And, not for nothing, but the original Klan was a political organization, not a religious one.
Boru
^^^^^^^^Um no, does not matter how it started, that is like saying Hitler was an atheist, it still would not change that he invoked god to convince Germans they were God's chosen people. The KKK is full of deeply religious people, regardless of how you claim it started.
When you understand evolution, you see grouping not only in humans, but in other primates as well. You will NOT get rid of our evolution, humans will always group. The point isn't to outlaw any religion, as I may have said before, but by understanding the real reasons humans do what they do, you can manage differences to a much more civil degree.
Anything can be turned into a religion, so it isn't just what we commonly call religion. Our species evolved to seek patterns, and when we think it works, regardless of any harm it may do, we seek to replicate that pattern. Economics and politics also get treated as a religion for far too many. I even warn atheists not to assume by proxy of label that constitutes morality. "Atheist" merely means "off" or "empty" on god claims. Outside that we are diverse as well in politics and economic views. Ultimately neither labels or books are indicators of human morality. Our species ability to be cruel or compassionate is in our evolution.
Religion causes racism regardless of pointing out those in religion who are not racists. It is a concept that sets up in group vs out group.
