“The authors failed to find that racial tolerance arises from humanitarian values, consistent with the idea that religious humanitarianism is largely expressed to in-group members. Only religious agnostics were racially tolerant.”

Here is a link to the PDF of the Study.  Sadly you have to be a subscriber to see the whole thing.

I find this relevant because I consider myself a religious agnostic.  I’m not quite to the point of Atheism, but science has not yet explained zero to me (the point of origin).  Religion just can’t do it because the facts don’t support the theory and I’m not willing to just imagine something as factually wrong as Genesis.  As a general rule, I don’t have an issue with the idea of a God or Gods.  What I have an issue with are humans who believe THEY are God which stems out of ALL organized religion.  I also consider myself to be pretty racially tolerant.  I attribute much of that to my upbringing, which, even though it was not hugely diverse, I was able to take away an understanding of different cultures and races.  As a child I was exposed to people all over the country as I toured with the American Boychoir and I met and stayed with everyone from Black deep south Evangelicals, to Upper New York State Jews with the stereotypical accents.  I’ve sung music from every corner of the globe and not only did I sing it but it was expected that we actually understand where it came from and the language it was to be sung in and the culture it was created in.   I spent 10 years of my life with a second generation Armenian American whose father was deeply rooted in the culture of his upbringing.  I was able to experience a culture that I had not previously been exposed to and I benefited from that exposure.  I think the difference with me is that I’ve not ever limited myself to association with only one type of person or one color of person because beyond that I believe we are all human and all of the same species with the same goals and aspirations.  You are not of a different species because you have dark skin and I don’t.  You are not a different species because you have blond hair and blue eyes and my hair happens to be brown.  You are not a different species because your speak broken English or because you wear a Turban.  I think that Christians tend to forget the commonality of humanity.  They get so wrapped up in shouting their messages that they forget the common  and core message of their faith.  That is precisely what bothers me about organized religion and it is precisely why I refuse to attend a church.  I’m not going to limit my life and my experiences to a congregation of similar thinking and looking individuals just for the sake of a common belief in God.  And I’m certainly not going to associate with individuals who can not accept the idea that skin color is irrelevant to being a human.  The year is 2010 and it is inexcusable for any individual of any race, of any creed, of any origin to antagonize people not like themselves simply because of that fact.

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Four Christians on Tuesday filed a federal lawsuit challenging the recently enacted Hate Crimes Prevention Act, arguing that it seeks to criminalize deeply held religious beliefs that are in opposition to homosexuality.

Read Box Turtle Bulletin’s take on this story here.  Find out exactly the only thing these Christians must want.

This shit get’s old, luckily so are the people espousing this bile.

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KALAMAZOO — Theological disagreements over homosexuality are causing a divide within a downtown ministry that serves the poor, homeless and lonely.

Martha’s Table, through which eight churches have provided Sunday afternoon worship and meals for the needy at First Congregational Church, is losing three of the churches because of the issue of homosexuality, even though the ecumenical ministry takes no position on it, said the Rev. Matt Laney, pastor of First Congregational.

You know, having been raised in a fairly liberal church, the one thing I did actually take out of Sunday worship was that we as a society have a responsibility to those less fortunate than us.  That Christ was FIRST about helping the poor, humble and meek for THEY shall inherit the earth.  Granted, my views on the idea of organized religion are fairly well known here on this blog.  I have little patience for the millions of “Christians” in this country who have all but forgotten WHY they are in fact followers of Christ, who would rather make threats and pass judgement on others AS IF they were actually following the example of Jesus Christ.  FUCK YOU and your Church, if you are not feeding the hungry FIRST, YOU ARE NO CHRISTIAN.  Even the drones I went to high school with in the CRC (Christian Reformed Church) understand that basic concept.

It is interesting though that stories like the above make it to national blogs.  They sure don’t do much to help bring people into this state.  The image below is a little over the top but fitting of the post.  You of course know that I won’t apologize for being offensive.  After all, you made the choice to come here and read this.

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