Monday, April 21, 2008

Religion is ‘the New Social Evil’

I found this article in the London Times via Bob Felton's blog, Civil Commotion, which has great commentary on politics and its intersection with religion. Like me, Bob routinely takes the Christianist crowd to task. I suspect much of the anti-religion reaction the poll found is due to the Christian Right elements both in this country and the UK. Their counterparts in Australia look to be equally unloving toward their fellow man/woman. The findings also seem consistent with USA polls that show the under 30 generations have a majority negative view of Christianity, particularly due to its intolerance and anti-gay agenda. Obviously, the regular dissemination of hate and intolerance is having an impact, but not the one the Christianist had hoped for. Here are some highlights:
A poll by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation uncovered a widespread belief that faith - not just in its extreme form - was intolerant, irrational and used to justify persecution. Pollsters asked 3,500 people what they considered to be the worst blights on modern society, updating a list drawn up by Rowntree, a Quaker, 104 years ago. The responses may well have dismayed him. The researchers found that the “dominant opinion” was that religion was a “social evil”.
Many participants said religion divided society, fuelled intolerance and spawned “irrational” educational and other policies. “Faith in supernatural phenomena inspires hatred and prejudice throughout the world, and is commonly used as justification for persecution of women, gays and people who do not have faith.”
The findings contrast with Rowntree’s “scourges of humanity”, which included poverty, war, slavery, intemperance, the opium trade, impurity and gambling. Poverty and drugs remain, but are joined by issues such as family breakdown, young people’s behaviour and fears over immigration.

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