Religion is, in large part, responsible for our current political division and animosity. [View All]

Religion validates the exalting of mere belief over factual evidence. It is not appropriate, we are taught from birth, to question a person's religious beliefs. And so, if one says that they are doing God's will; that God has told them to do thus and so; we are all conditioned to politely nod, maybe smile just a bit, and NEVER EVER say "That's ridiculous!" or anything of the sort even when it is obvious that what the person has said is TOTALLY ridiculous.

For years, this "sanctuary" for all manner of small, mean-spirited and shameful acts and opinions was used primarily by charlatans who used it to make lots of money for themselves. This was sad, but had very little effect on most of us.

Then, a couple of decades ago, politicians discovered the sanctuary. If they could talk Bible and be "agin" the approved list of no-nos, they could do just about anything they wanted and be praised as a "fine Christian".

Invade a small country without provocation? "I was called by God to invade!"

Use the Constitution for toilet paper? "I was doing God's will!"

Mere belief, unsupported by any facts, was used to set national policy.

Mere belief sent us to war.

So, why shouldn't mere belief trump all this scientific stuff about global climate change?

Why shouldn't mere belief be the last word about homosexuality being a chosen and sinful lifestyle?

Why shouldn't mere belief that the health care bill statute will enable the "socialist government" to euthanize grandma be more authoritative than the actual language of the law which contains no such thing?

Why shouldn't mere belief that Sarah Palin is even marginally competent be far more important than all the evidence to the contrary?

By opening the door to a new class of charlatans, religion has set the fool equal to the wisest; the kind and good-hearted equal to the greedy and power-hungry; the truth equal to the latest politically expedient lie.