Religion and Racial Tolerance

[The Reformer]

I was delving through Wikipedia last night when I stumbled across some cross-linked pages on "White Nationalism." Now I myself, having lived in Africa for the majority of my life, have no problems with colored people of any sorts. Now there are numerous reasons for racial tolerance and intolerance.

However, I think that some of it has to do with religion. It would seem to me a few people out there took holy scriptures too literally and this has involved.

Now I'm not saying that if you're theistic you're also racist.

But I'm asking to what extent does one influence the other? Are Atheists more tolerant than Theists? I know Atheists generally accept homosexuals much more than Theists do, but does this tolerance spread to racial tolerance? For that matter, for those who do post here, what are your views on "White Nationalism" and the like?

[EarlOfLade]

Religious people are in general the most intolerant ones, no matter what the topic is!

[Anat]

It's not that religion directly causes racism, but once there is a mindset that truth claims from a certain source are supposed to be accepted and that's it, then it can be used to get otherwise moral people to set their morality aside in a particular context. Can't remember whose quote this is: "...but for good people to do bad things, for that one needs religion."

[Unbeatable]

It's not that religion directly causes racism, but once there is a mindset that truth claims from a certain source are supposed to be accepted and that's it, then it can be used to get otherwise moral people to set their morality aside in a particular context. Can't remember whose quote this is: "...but for good people to do bad things, for that one needs religion."

"Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion. "
-Steven Weinberg

I don't quite buy it, but that's the quote.

[Anat]

I think it is the corolary of the euphythro dilemma. Either rules are good for secular reasons - which, if taken to the logical conclusion takes one to secular morality, or they are to be followed merely for being proclaimed by gods and their earthly representatives - which, if taken to the logical conclusion, leads to attrocities in the name of the gods. And then, I suppose some good people may do bad in the name of some other religion-like ideology.

[The Reformer]

Jesus preached love and acceptance of your neighbor. In my eyes we are all neighbors, thus fundamentalists are going against Jesus' word, right?

And what about atheists, are their atheists that are intolerant. If so, why?

[Berthold]

It may be a mistake to see atheists as a homogeneous group that has many opinions and attitudes in common.

The very same people with whom I can discuss amiably about science may find it absolutely abhorrent that I find it right that David Irving was sentenced to jail.

Opposition to capital punishment has a majority on IIDB polls, but it is 60 rather than 95%.

The very same fallacies about IQ, heredity and race keep coming up again and again.

Same with homophobia, sometimes disguised as the question, "Is homosexuality natural etc.".

No, atheism does not ipso facto make "liberals" (US definition) in other respects.

[AthenaAwakened]

People are people. And a person's religion/philosophy/life-stance (whatever) is usually something of a reflection of who that person is. That's how both a Martin Luther King and a Bull Conner can profess themselves to be christian.

[sharon45]

Jesus preached love and acceptance of your neighbor. In my eyes we are all neighbors, thus fundamentalists are going against Jesus' word, right?For being considered a man of love and peace, jesus was still intolerant and very divisive, but he never did speak of any opinion either way concerning gays.

People can be against gays and/or gay marriage for different reasons and religion does not in anyway have to place a role in their decision making.

And what about atheists, are their atheists that are intolerant. If so, why?Atheists just lack a belief in god, but they are still free to believe in anything else they choose to.

To me about the same rationale that is in humans to take up religions is close to the same as those that have problems with differences without reasons past their mere opinion.