If you want racial tolerance, you want a religious agnostic

[Perd Hapley]

I keep thinking about the one friend I have who has racial tendencies, and his son (who goes overboard with it)

VERY religious. Raised in the Deep South, in the 60s. Has his prejudices, but tends to look past them (unless given evidence they're correct). Not only has racial biases, but religious and lifestyle (absolutely HATES gays and Muslims), but doesn't act overtly on them (of course, I've never seen him confronted with a Muslim, so)...

His son idolizes him. And even the father has had to jerk him up short on some of the bias BS (like him asking me if he could borrow my pistol at Starbucks, because he "saw a couple fags"). But still, he seems to have seriously internalized "hatred of the Other"... and lacks the self discipline to control it.

Kinda rambling, trying to get my thoughts to gel on the whole thing. Sorta building on what Liz was saying: that those who were raised with both religious and racial tendencies and reject one, usually reject both. And it seems that, those who DON'T reject them, tend to have stronger feelings on the issue...

Dude, you meet the WORST people. Child molesters, this guy, not to mention mtnbkr. What are you doing wrong? Are you cursed?

[MechAg94]

I keep thinking about the one friend I have who has racial tendencies, and his son (who goes overboard with it)

VERY religious. Raised in the Deep South, in the 60s. Has his prejudices, but tends to look past them (unless given evidence they're correct). Not only has racial biases, but religious and lifestyle (absolutely HATES gays and Muslims), but doesn't act overtly on them (of course, I've never seen him confronted with a Muslim, so)...

His son idolizes him. And even the father has had to jerk him up short on some of the bias BS (like him asking me if he could borrow my pistol at Starbucks, because he "saw a couple fags"). But still, he seems to have seriously internalized "hatred of the Other"... and lacks the self discipline to control it.

Kinda rambling, trying to get my thoughts to gel on the whole thing. Sorta building on what Liz was saying: that those who were raised with both religious and racial tendencies and reject one, usually reject both. And it seems that, those who DON'T reject them, tend to have stronger feelings on the issue...

Odd thing about that is that Christian teaching generally frowns on hatred and murder quite a bit. 

[Strings]

Dude, you meet the WORST people. Child molesters, this guy, not to mention mtnbkr. What are you doing wrong? Are you cursed?

I've never met mtnbkr. And honestly, the guy above is one of those people who can be a REALLY good person. *shrug*

Odd thing about that is that Christian teaching generally frowns on hatred and murder quite a bit. 

Most Christians don't learn the entire Bible. Many don't even crack it open themselves, instead relying on others to "interpret" it for them. Even those that do their own thinking will, usually, pick and choose the teachings that fit their prejudices. And ignore anything that they don't like...

[MechAg94]

Most Christians don't learn the entire Bible. Many don't even crack it open themselves, instead relying on others to "interpret" it for them. Even those that do their own thinking will, usually, pick and choose the teachings that fit their prejudices. And ignore anything that they don't like...

I would not say "most", but there are many out there.  I would say that many people (Christians and non-Christians) fall in the the trap of justifying their own bad behavior.  It is a common failure and not limited to Christians. 

[lee n. field]

Perhaps this is a case where, if you use actual behaviour (as in, do you show up for church most Sundays, or twice a year), the picture becomes quite different.

[Ron]

20th/21st century irreligious societies and governments don't have a very good track record regarding race IMHO.

How open to minorities was the USSR? What about North Korea? How about China? Japan?

[charby]

20th/21st century irreligious societies and governments don't have a very good track record regarding race IMHO.

How open to minorities was the USSR? What about North Korea? How about China? Japan?

If they cared about other countries/modern culture, they would be anti Islamic because of their treatment of women, gays and non believers.

[Strings]

Perhaps this is a case where, if you use actual behaviour (as in, do you show up for church most Sundays, or twice a year), the picture becomes quite different.

I don't really see church attendance as all that indicative of true faith. Known WAY too many people who are in church every Sunday, and absolute bastards the rest of the week. Pretty sure they see church as "clear away last week's sins, so I can sin some more".

[MechAg94]

My parents don't go to Church at all, but they listen to recorded sermons almost daily.

[grampster]

Painting lots of people with the same brush is hypocrisy of the highest order.  Jesus addressed that human trait with respect to the adulteress/prostitute who the "religious" zealots were going to stone to death.  He advised that he who was without sin to cast the first stone.  That's good advice whether you are a believer or not.   

Paul, the apostle had some good advice in a letter he wrote to the Christians in Galatia.  Chapters 3-6 covers it quite well if you happen to be of the Christian persuasion; particularly in chapter 5 verses 19-26...which is good advice if your persuasion is anything at all other than satanist.