religion is child abuse. What's the suprise here?

doug mcc...not in all cases, but that case? Absolutely. IMO, religion should be taught from an anthropological perspective until about the age of 12 or 14 (formal operational thinking + some maturity)...then, they can start making their own decisions.

what's sad is that people like this lady are such a minority - a vocal one, of course - but they really are a minority. But, since they're totally crazy, they get all the publicity. Too bad. Just listen to somebody like Obama talk about his faith...i may not agree with all that he believes in faith-wise, but he understands that, with the divine, nothing is certain.

Once one declares to know the mind of god and all that it means, it ceases to be god at all....oh, the paradoxes of life...

I have a secret for her: There's no real magic.

I guess I shouldn't show her my copy of "Hairy Peter and the Chamber of Hookers."

"Harry Potter would have been put to death." Just a basic doctrinal statement from a representative of a blood sacrifice religion.

Can't we instruct children in good vrs bad and why they should be strong members of the human race with good character with out throwing religion into it? Why do we have to bull shit the most defenseless members. The tooth fairy, santa claus,vampires and goblins. What the hell are we doing this for. Can't we teach them to have imagination in ways other then this?

Arnie continues to screw
needy Californians.

Rockefeller plays Republicrat again: The Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday approved a bill sponsored by West Virginia Senator Jay Rockefeller that would effectively overturn a court decision barring the FCC from fining broadcasters for airing fleeting expletives in live broadcasts. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin welcomed the lawmakers' action, saying that it would affirm "the commission's ability to protect our children from indecent language and images." However Dennis Wharton, a spokesman for the National Association of Broadcasters insisted that broadcasters "go to great lengths to prevent [indecent] language, and it is disingenuous to suggest otherwise." And Nick Gillespie, editor-in-chief at the libertarian Reason magazine, told CNSNews.com, a unit of the conservative Media Research Center, that Congress ought to be dealing with such issues as terrorism and poverty. "This helps explain why congressional approval ratings are at 14 percent and going down."

Source: IMDB

This is stupid.

However all religions have their stupid, even bigoted incantations. Like a woman can't touch a male Jew when he has a block of wood on his forehead. Muslims, (and others) cutting off a young girl's clitoris supposedly to keep her from turning into a sex wanton whore. Not eating pork and all this food taboo bullshit....ect...ect...

Its not just Christians.

simply
she is an ignorant piece of shit.
i am tired of people who speak for god. if they actually had a direct line
they would spread the love and joy the "bible" ascribes to not this venom and hate,
the american crap version that has been bastardized.

guess i will burn in their version of hell, i am an agnostic. i know the difference
between real compassion and empathy versus their demeaning feces breath.

rockefeller needs to concentrate on the reasons for war inquiry and leave the dumb stuff to the republicans.

Hey site monitor. Where do some of our comments go for a while? I did a little different version of an earlier one that did not show up.

[They end up in the spam filter. John Amato's comments were ending up there earlier, so you're in great company. Sorry about that. I'll try to fix it for you-Sitemonitor]

[deleted--don't advocate violence.]

It really IS child abuse by definition. She and her cohorts should be arrested. We have better uses for our prison system than locking up hookers and pot smokers.

Did somebody say that Dick Cheney would be president while Dubya is in the hospital getting Roto-Rootered?

Is the Nuclear Football under competent guard? I have this uneasy feeling that Armageddon is about to be imanually mplemented.

I think some Gene Robinson makes a nice antidote for scary "Christianity"...

A little while ago, in the only time that the Archbishop of Canterbury ever deigned to see me, we were having a little "chat", and at one point in our conversation, he was explaining to me that, actually what the Episcopal church should have done prior to electing and consecrating me, was that we should have figured all this out theologically and intellectually... We should have come to a common mind, and then passed canons and and then done this thing. And I said to him with as much respect as I could, "Your Grace, it seems to me that all of the great steps that has taken, have been as a result of our doing the right thing, and only then, "thinking" our way to what we did. It's not the other way around. I mean, if we had waited for instance in this country for everyone to have been on the same page about civil rights, there would still be separate drinking fountains, wouldn't there? And if we had waited until women were valued as equal and full members of society and the human race for goodness sakes, all of that discrimination would still exist.

And, does anyone think that if those 11 women hadn't been "irregularly" ordained in Philadelphia, that we would be ordaining women yet? I'm not sure we would! And it seems that all the great steps forward we have made have been a result of our doing the right thing, and then thinking our way theologically to how that was the right thing.

btw C&L,

Why even TEMPT those lurking fun-busters with this thread?

Kidding. It's all good.

Ali @ 30:

Religion has been the cause of many wars. Does this speak to religion or the humans who practice it?

Religion has been the cause of very few wars. Greed, racism, nationalism and the quest for power has been the cause of far more.

Ali @ 30:

Religion has been the cause of many wars. Does this speak to religion or the humans who practice it?

Well since Chimpanzees have organized wars between "tribes", I would say that religion is but one excuse Humans make to make war. I also find it fascinating that Chimpanzees eat their enemies and pass around the meat of their dead enemies bodies, sharing bite after bite in macabre ritual.

Only the paranoid need ritual.

tyree @ 6:

religion sucks the brains out of humans

-----------------------------------------------------------
I think you are right. How else could they swallow that nonsence.

Bob I don't know that much about eastern religions other then they have a lot of life philosophy in them. I have read the book of mormon and and quite a bit on the muslim religion and of course a lot on western religions. Other then eastern the rest are all full of bigotry. The one true god is a part of all of them. Why is being divisive so important to all of them. Why is our history so full of things like we came here for religious freedom? Why do modern US religious groups go out of their way to say publicly that the other religions are not true religions? It sounds like a ford dealer telling a customer that chevrolet is a bad car. Just marketing. Why do they need marketing? What are they trying to sell?

I'm afraid that these kids are going to grow up to have serious issues in coping with real life and its experiences. Let alone being capable to live in society.

They will grow up to assassinate Dumbo the flying elephant, and hate all those that are not like them.

Where in society will the fit?

This is proof that "The Children are Our Future" is complete b.s.
These children are our early Medieval Period.

mark @ 41:

... Why is being divisive so important to all of them. Why is our history so full of things like we came here for religious freedom? Why do modern US religious groups go out of their way to say publicly that the other religions are not true religions? ...

Not sure I can answer this, but I'll give a shot. Religion can be divisive for the same reason any other beliefs can be. Once you are a member of a group, you can define your membership by your opposition to other groups. If the other group's views are as valid as yours, why stay with your group?

Religion is no more divisive than ideology. Liberals and conservatives, Democrats and Republicans, libertarians and communists. People who are determined to find groups which define themselves as superior to other groups don't need religion to do it.

Religion need not be divisive. One of the fundamental tenets of the New Testament is that God is Love, not Hate. The Qu'ran exhorts peoples of the book (monotheists) to tolerate each others views. More importantly, many religious people support and respect others desire to discover the divine for themselves.

I also think the MSM gives a distorted view of religion. People discussing their religious views in a rational and calm manner just don't make as compelling viewing as extremists preaching hate. Viewers are more likely to remember scenes of screaming protesters throwing fake (if you're lucky) blood outside an abortion clinic than they are a conversation with a Catholic priest discussing the rationale for his beliefs.

Finally, religion (like nationalism and ideology) inspires people. That inspiration can be used for good or ill. If I wanted to start and perpetuate a war to preserve or expand my hold on power, I can use all three to motivate my supporters.

Religion is bad and anyone that believes in God should [deleted] and not allowed to vote, even if they intend to vote (D). F everyone who doesn't think the way the true progressives do. "It's our way or the highway!". Good luck with that, you dumb f*cks.

Why would anyone want to belong to a chuch led by someone so stupid and hateful?

ldzppln @ 49:

Religion is bad and anyone that believes in God should [deleted] and not allowed to vote, even if they intend to vote (D). F everyone who doesn't think the way the true progressives do. "It's our way or the highway!". Good luck with that, you dumb f*cks.

Dude, now you're just sounding like THEM. People can believe whatever they want to believe. It's just that religion should have no place in politics and we need to work on that whole separation of church and state thing. That's all.

Tony the Tiger convinced me at the age of 4 that Frosted Flakes taste GRRRRREAT!

They do, don't they?

Yes they do taste great.

Back then they had truth in child brainwashing laws.

Ugh. That gluttonous slob of a woman is hideous. I can't stand christian fundamentalists. They are terrorists. They murdered numerous innocent women during the Salem Witch Trials. They participated in the genocide of the Native American People during the Western expansion, calling them "heathens". They fill the ranks of the evil Klu Klux Klan. They bomb abortion clinics murdering doctors and women alike. Perhaps more that any other group in America, besides the neocon inner circle, they love the war in Iraq and actually pray for the destruction of the world. I'm sick of them butting into other people's lives. I'd like to ship them to an island with an equal number of muslim fundamentalists and let them duke it out with their own kind.

Republicans have no respect for law enforcement officers.

Congressman clashes with police

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Republican Rep. Christopher Shays apologized Friday for a loud and angry altercation he had a day earlier with a Capitol Police officer, saying he behaved “in a way I know was not appropriate.”

Shays spokesman John Cardarelli said the incident took place at the West Front entrance to the Capitol during a rainstorm when the congressman was trying to locate a group of his Connecticut constituents who were coming for a Capitol tour.

TIKI AL @ 56:

Actually if the church lady was born in Baghdad she would be planting IEDs and killing Americans.

ignorant and pathetic. that must have taken some extra thought.

"Put to death" - applause.

Preach on bitch...........

[Deleted. 9/11conspiracy stuff here, and you know it-Sitemonitor]

sloth is a sin too fat lady

BaScOmBe @ 62:

you can't stop ignorance, especially with the response of more ignorance.
you can't stop hatred, especially with the response of more hatred.
you can't stop violence, especially with the response of more violence.

It's in the genetic makeup.

So I'm going to see Harry Potter tomorrow because it's been fun and it's going to be fun.
Then I'm going to my friend's cookout.

Gotta chill once in a while, you know? It's in the genetic makeup. I'm sure of it.

Have fun, BaScOmBe!

miss_kitty @ 71:

BaScOmBe @ 62:

you can't stop ignorance, especially with the response of more ignorance.
you can't stop hatred, especially with the response of more hatred.
you can't stop violence, especially with the response of more violence.

It's in the genetic makeup.

So I'm going to see Harry Potter tomorrow because it's been fun and it's going to be fun.
Then I'm going to my friend's cookout.

Gotta chill once in a while, you know? It's in the genetic makeup. I'm sure of it.

Have fun, BaScOmBe!

thanks miss_kitty! :)

mark @ 68:

Phej Omatic @ 67:

[Deleted. 9/11conspiracy stuff here, and you know it-Sitemonitor]

[Deleted. 9/11conspiracy stuff here, and you know it-Sitemonitor]

"How this doesn’t qualify as psychological child abuse is beyond me. Poor kids."

Problem is those poor kids are going to be the ignorant @holes we'll have to argue with online in 15 years.

#64 mark

That statement leads me to question your faith. You obviously do not believe in God. I (respectfully) ask you: In what do YOU believe? Are your convictions in the Environ Movement? A very powerful belief system. Or the Peace Movement.

You also hate Jews. Why?

Why do they not deserve a home land?

RTLM @ 81:

#64 mark

That statement leads me to question your faith. You obviously do not believe in God. I (respectfully) ask you: In what do YOU believe? Are your convictions in the Environ Movement? A very powerful belief system. Or the Peace Movement.

You also hate Jews. Why?

Why do they not deserve a home land?

Please go back and read it again. I did not claim the phrases as mine.

RTLM @ 84:

mark @ 83:

RTLM @ 81:

#64 mark
That statement leads me to question your faith. You obviously do not believe in God. I (respectfully) ask you: In what do YOU believe? Are your convictions in the Environ Movement? A very powerful belief system. Or the Peace Movement.
You also hate Jews. Why?
Why do they not deserve a home land?

Please go back and read it again. I did not claim the phrases as mine.

But you do subscribe to them...

Please do not put words in my mouth. You can turn on any station any day and here these things.

[I read the comment RTLM, and believe me, if I'd taken what was said the way you did, the comment would not be left on the board. I believe you are misinterpreting mark's comment, and he's telling you that as well. You can drop it-Sitemonitor]

TIKI AL @ 56:

Actually if the church lady was born in Baghdad she would be planting IEDs and killing Americans.

It sounds like Frosted Flakes aren't the only thing you were brainwashed about.
You simply don't know the facts. You're spewing crap as if it were true. I guess you skipped the "Debate Club" back in school and spent your time smoking and looking at porn in the boy's bathroom.

If she were born in Baghdad she'd probably be either a refugee in a neighboring country by now, or she'd be hiding in her house hoping the catastrophe would end soon. But, then again, I didn't expect you to know anything about that. You're hopeless.

Every time I hear this psycho Fundy witch open her trap I just want to remind her that "in the testiment" women were not allowed to speak in most religious settings.... and she would have been stoned to death for wearing pants.

Bob Roberts @ 47:

mark @ 41:

... Why is being divisive so important to all of them. Why is our history so full of things like we came here for religious freedom? Why do modern US religious groups go out of their way to say publicly that the other religions are not true religions? ...

Not sure I can answer this, but I'll give a shot. Religion can be divisive for the same reason any other beliefs can be. Once you are a member of a group, you can define your membership by your opposition to other groups. If the other group's views are as valid as yours, why stay with your group?

Religion is no more divisive than ideology. Liberals and conservatives, Democrats and Republicans, libertarians and communists. People who are determined to find groups which define themselves as superior to other groups don't need religion to do it.

I respectfully disagree. I think there is something inherently more divisive about religion than about other ideologies or identities. Namely, by teaching that faith -- belief without or contrary to evidence -- is a virtue, religion has a unique manner of stopping all potential conversation. Whenever people have disagreements, for all intents and purposes, there are two ways of settling the disagreement: discussion and violence. The main difference between people who disagree politically and people who disagree about matters of faith is that the former can more easily engage in normative discourse to persuade one another to their viewpoint. Likewise, scientists who disagree about an empirical matter are more prone to discussion, each willing (in principle) to be proven wrong. Faith, on the other hand is, in principle, unwaivering.

Certainly, not all religions preach the same normative doctrines or even the same metaphysics. But once a person takes on faith that her actions and way of life are ordained by an omniscient deity, we can only hope that her actions and way of life are non-violent; discussion and persuasion are out of the picture for such a person, in a way that they never quite are for the liberal, the conservative, the libertarian or the communist.

I would certainly like to live in the kind of world your words conjure, but I do not think we can get there until we recognize the inherent dangers of faith-based divisions, and stop according faith and religion special respect and deference.

Religion need not be divisive. One of the fundamental tenets of the New Testament is that God is Love, not Hate. The Qu'ran exhorts peoples of the book (monotheists) to tolerate each others views. More importantly, many religious people support and respect others desire to discover the divine for themselves.

Perhaps, but another tenet of those texts are that those who do not subscribe to them have a reservation for eternity in the most exquisite torture chambers conceivable. No, not all religions preach such horrors, and not all adherents of the two monotheistic faiths that do subscribe to that particular gruesome tenet. But all three widely practiced monotheistic faiths stem from texts that are contradictory at best, hideous and barbaric at worst.

I also think the MSM gives a distorted view of religion. People discussing their religious views in a rational and calm manner just don't make as compelling viewing as extremists preaching hate. Viewers are more likely to remember scenes of screaming protesters throwing fake (if you're lucky) blood outside an abortion clinic than they are a conversation with a Catholic priest discussing the rationale for his beliefs.

Don't underestimate the number of fundamentalists in the world who take their scriptures literally and to the letter. They are not a "fringe" group in terms of their size.

Finally, religion (like nationalism and ideology) inspires people. That inspiration can be used for good or ill. If I wanted to start and perpetuate a war to preserve or expand my hold on power, I can use all three to motivate my supporters.

True enough. Go one level of abstraction back, and we'll see that the ultimate problem is dogma. Indeed, any ideology, identity or religion can become a pernicious dogma. However, by preaching the virtues of faith, religion readily embraces dogma, quicker and easier than than ideology or identity.

Also...

Harry Potter is gay
I also saw him at an anti-war rally
He still buys products from China and Darfur
He's pro-abortion
He votes Democratic in the general elections and Republican in the primaries

It's an odd world.

[Peace]

Link to Bob Marley Exodus

As a Christian, I find this lady to be intensely offensive.
She spews a lot of crap. Did she protest when God was portrayed as a golf sweater and glasses wearing, cigar smoking, dirty old man by George Burns?

Had I been there I would have loved to have mentioned the 7 deadly sins because 2 of them are sloth and gluttony and she looks like the only running she does is to the buffet table.

People like her make all of us Christians look bad.

Well, by admission, a lot of religious people say they are no good at understanding science or math, yet they claim to know the will of God, and I think God should be at least smart enough to know a bit of science. A paradox!

It's people like her that give muggles a bad name.

Renee in Ohio @ 31:

I think some Gene Robinson makes a nice antidote for scary "Christianity"...

A little while ago, in the only time that the Archbishop of Canterbury ever deigned to see me, we were having a little "chat", and at one point in our conversation, he was explaining to me that, actually what the Episcopal church should have done prior to electing and consecrating me, was that we should have figured all this out theologically and intellectually... We should have come to a common mind, and then passed canons and and then done this thing. And I said to him with as much respect as I could, "Your Grace, it seems to me that all of the great steps that has taken, have been as a result of our doing the right thing, and only then, "thinking" our way to what we did. It's not the other way around. I mean, if we had waited for instance in this country for everyone to have been on the same page about civil rights, there would still be separate drinking fountains, wouldn't there? And if we had waited until women were valued as equal and full members of society and the human race for goodness sakes, all of that discrimination would still exist.

And, does anyone think that if those 11 women hadn't been "irregularly" ordained in Philadelphia, that we would be ordaining women yet? I'm not sure we would! And it seems that all the great steps forward we have made have been a result of our doing the right thing, and then thinking our way theologically to how that was the right thing.

That is an excellent way to get at the premise that people are born with or learn from their parents their personal moral compass, and only after they've made a decision do they actually evaluate it in the context of their religious code. Violently contradicting the notion that people can't figure out morality without the Bible at their elbow.

Jeez,

The kids look like a bunch of puppies being yelled at for enjoying life :(

Baaad Crazy Lady, bad, BAD!!!

CIU @ 105:

Jeez,

The kids look like a bunch of puppies being yelled at for enjoying life :(

Baaad Crazy Lady, bad, BAD!!!

[smells like the Christian TALIBAN]

Someone should tell her that in the Old Testament, eating a Big Mac was a stoning offense.

Batocchio @ 51:

Why would anyone want to belong to a chuch led by someone so stupid and hateful?

Because their paretns are just as stupid and hateful.

http://www.ifilm.com/video/2876372/show/20981

Anyone ever see these Lil Bush cartoons? PRICELESS!!

Despite your personal attacks on me, I stand by my observation that this simple minded hateful vicious fundamentalist if born in any other culture would be just as dangerous but be committed to a different religion or cult.

You hurt my feelings, sniff, sniff. (tears)

Harry Potter is evil! But ol' GWB is a-ok (LOL) You don't make heroes out of liars and criminals.

As for Michael Vick, his crime is a serious one. And I do care about animals. But it's kid stuff compared to what this Preznut has done to human beings and the environment.

Also, Michael calls dog fighting a "sport." He should have stuck to just football. It pays a hell out a lot more.

Video: Bush Threats and Actions Risk Accidental War with Iran "They're certainly issuing threats very publicly and openly. Not only the words but even the actions. So, for example, the last couple of years, the United States has provided to Israel over a hundred advanced jet bombers openly advertised as capable of bombing Iran and returning. I don't think a word about that has been published in the United States but it's public information. You can read it in the Israeli press, you can read it in military journals. Certainly Iranian intelligence knows it. ..." see more

tyree @ 6:

religion sucks the brains out of humans

-------------

Actually its the fundamentalist faiths that suck the brains out of humans. Most mainstream believers are quite fine, thank you. It's the fringes that are the "misunderstood". Think of Jehovah's Witnesses, those who use snakes as a profession of faith and think of those faiths which put the leader at the centre rather than the redeemer. Most Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopals and Lutherans are very fine, thank you. Notice too the omissions.

While we're at it, notice how much air time of 700 Club is devoted to money not ministry. The same could be said for most other televangelists; money before ministry. Sounds like a case of reversed values and priorities.

Surprised to see a banner for CNN up top and advertising for CNN on the right. Same surprise as I would feel if I saw banners and adds for FOX. There's no qualitative difference between the two. What gives?

Jesus Camp Freak--

This book is fiction just like the psychotic form of "religion" you supposedly promote. Go take your meds and settle down.

Apparently the church of england is actually using HP to teach their religion. Which is equally as bizarre as this crazy woman's reaction in my book, but slightly less obnoxious than the xtian "god doesn't want you to think without permission" bunch.

Personally I think religion is as ridiculous as believing in fairies and goblins. The 'believers' are some of the funniest clowns I've ever witnessed. At least when they're not trying to burn or kill you for not mindlessly obeying their invisible magic asshole in the sky.

I think Religion is a form of mental illness and I look forward to the day a cure is achieved.

Alley @ 128:

Wizards aren't Warlocks
There is good and evil in all communities
Vitter uses religion as it use him, believes all he has to do is to ask his God for forgiveness
but forgets that his God was so replused by his ilk, that he made it rain for forty days and forty nights to purge the Earth of the likes of him.

Yeah. That's what happened.

I saw this movie, very well done. I love the part where the woman talks about fasting. Like the nasty bigoted pig has ever fasted in her life!

17 Salmineo Says: This is stupid.

However all religions have their stupid, even bigoted incantations. Like a woman can’t touch a male Jew when he has a block of wood on his forehead. Muslims, (and others) cutting off a young girl’s clitoris supposedly to keep her from turning into a sex wanton whore. Not eating pork and all this food taboo bullshit….ect…ect…

Its not just Christians.

Yeah, all religions have their ideosyncracies. But most of them aren't calling for the death of a fictional boy-wizard.

I don't think this is about "christianity" - I think this woman is just whacked.

Nice quote #134! I actually went to a camp like that. It wasn't as extreme but my mother went through a born again Christian Phase and well we ended up in a born again Christian day camp. Everyone was talking about how they couldn't wait to die, and that God was going to bring them home any second now. Insanely morbid. Luckily it didn't last long but I will never forget it. It was one of many experiences that turned me into an agnostic.

ummmm.......... I don't buy into that bullllllshit. religion is an alternative to real time. These books were translated buy dozens of people taken from stories that are just peices that will be re written thousands of years from now. it's only refreshed by new names and ideas. We are living in real time PEOPLE!!! I don't buy into all the BULLLLLLSHIT.... Poor Kids have to listen to a woman holding a microphone with a very very narrow mind.

It never ceases to amaze me how these religious nut cases confuse the "old testament" with the "new testament". Who is the so called "lord" that she is referring to? Is it Jehovah or Jesus? And why would anyone want to participate in a religion built upon fear and death? I like the Gnostic way of thinking. It's positive and it's about the here and now. We cannot undo the past, we can only be here now and work to make a better tomorrow.

keep the change!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

holy cow! (sorry...couldn't resist)

OK first of all, Harry Potter is a (fictional) wizard, not a "warlock" and to the best of my knowledge there is nothing in the new testament about warlocks. Also, if that huge frightening beastly hag actually knew anything about Jesus, she would know that Jesus was a magician. She obviously has no business being anywhere near children. I will have nightmares about that clip forever.

135
jjeske: you, and other agnostic/atheists, may enjoy this and/or find it useful: http://www.escapefromwatchtower.com/stages.html

it's a summary of the stages of spiritual growth. The host site is pretty funny..an ex johavah's witness who's a bit pissed off....but the link info is very good..

The lady in the clip is pure Stage I.

kiva

Karen @ 91:

I respectfully disagree. I think there is something inherently more divisive about religion than about other ideologies or identities. Namely, by teaching that faith -- belief without or contrary to evidence -- is a virtue, religion has a unique manner of stopping all potential conversation. Whenever people have disagreements, for all intents and purposes, there are two ways of settling the disagreement: discussion and violence. The main difference between people who disagree politically and people who disagree about matters of faith is that the former can more easily engage in normative discourse to persuade one another to their viewpoint. Likewise, scientists who disagree about an empirical matter are more prone to discussion, each willing (in principle) to be proven wrong. Faith, on the other hand is, in principle, unwaivering.

Faith is not restricted to religion. In fact, most faith is entirely unconnected with organized religion or even with informal belief and spirituality. Faith is a belief in something which is either untestable or which the person with faith haa simply not tested empirically. Numerous scientific theories are untestable - the "big bang", the origins of homo sapiens, etc and require faith that the theory is correct. Additionally, since no one has time to test every assumption that they make, people constantly operate by taking their beliefs (religious, political, spiritual, cultural, social, etc.) on faith, rather than seeking evidence.

Additionally, most social or political positions are based (at some level) upon individual morality and/or group ethics. Moral and ethical positions are typically based on faith, not reason. Take property rights, for example, I happen to believe that any individual only has property rights to the extent that these rights are recognized by the legal system. Change the system and you change the rights. Same with the right to life. Others believe that these rights are somehow "fundamental". Neither of us will likely be able to change the others moral view through reasoned discussion and neither of these positions requires religious belief.

Go one level of abstraction back, and we'll see that the ultimate problem is dogma. Indeed, any ideology, identity or religion can become a pernicious dogma. However, by preaching the virtues of faith, religion readily embraces dogma, quicker and easier than than ideology or identity.

I'm far from certain that religion embraces dogma any more readily than ideology or other identity. Ideologies and nationalisms (and cultures and organizations) can be just as intolerant of dissent as religions.

BTW, all fundamentalist Christians do not act in concert nor believe the same things. I know several devout Christians who support the Democrats because they believe the Democratic platform is more Christian than the GOP's.

What a fucking pig......