Does Religion Reduce or Promote Discrimination?

A local pastor and a local atheist debate

Aug. 21, 2015

"Birds of a feather flock together." Try as we might, we won’t find this proverb suggesting "those of like kind stick together" in scripture.

We will find it in William Turner’s papist satire from 1545, The Rescuing of Romish Fox:

"Byrdes of on kynde and color flok and flye allwayes together." We will find it in Benjamin Jowett’s translation of Plato’s Republic from 1856: "Men of my age flock together; we are birds of a feather, as the old proverb says." We will find examples throughout nature. We won’t find it in the Bible!

While this proverb reflects the natural order of things, the Bible invites us to a higher calling. Though it may be in our nature to congregate with those of like mind – like skin color, ethnicity, race, income, social class, and yes, like faith – the Bible, like Christ, embraces diversity. We are to see beyond our differences. We are all children of God.

The Apostle Paul writes: "As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Jesus Christ."

What about non-Christians? Are they excluded from the flock? No, like Christ, Presbyterians and many others welcome everyone.

Dr. Martin Luther King observed long ago: "Ten o’clock, Sunday morning, can be the most segregated hour of the week." But it doesn’t have to be. Segregation comes by nature, not faith. Though we come by divisions naturally. Faith calls us to higher ground. We are all God’s children!

Gary’s Response 

Like many other historic teachings, Bill’s words sound good on paper. Remember, every word of every religious text was written by a human being, often thousands of years ago. Until we embrace the fact that living our 21st century lives according to current social norms makes more sense, discrimination within religions will continue.

Dr. King was right on both statements – Sunday morning is the most segregated hour of the week and it does not have to be. The way to stop that segregation is to stop the "one way, my way" thinking that dominates all religions. None of us can change our sexual orientation, country of origin, or race, but we all are free to choose equality. If your religion fails that test, I suggest you look in a different direction.

There is no question that the intentions of most organized religions are honorable. The unintended consequences are the problems. With the exception of Unitarian Universalism, which welcomes anyone regardless of personal belief, most modern religious systems demand conformity to specified precepts. They each have their own version of a god and his (generally male and white) behavior; and they each exclude those who do not accept their belief system.

While they have that right, the natural result is discrimination. Seldom is discriminatory behavior sanctioned by the religion, but it occurs naturally whenever you subdivide people into categories. Catholics discriminate against women, the divorced or birth control users; Islam discriminates against women and "nonbelievers"; many religions discriminate against gays. The list is long.

The Constitution outlaws discrimination based upon race, color, religion, sex, or national ori gin.

Hopefully, sexual orientation will soon follow. Notice that only one of those categories is optional – religion. The irony of such Constitution protections against discrimination is that religions are free to discriminate in any way they choose.

Each of us has the moral obligation to treat every other human on Earth with dignity and respect, regardless of their beliefs. It is not coincidence that increased rejection of religious belief parallels rejection of human discrimination. In fact, the only belief system that does not discriminate in any way is non-theism. Moreover, it does not ask for donations.

In the words of Pope Francis, "It is not necessary to believe in God to be a good person. In a way, the traditional notion of God is outdated." It is also not necessary to accept any religious system that discriminates against anyone for any reason.

Bill’s Response

"Can’t we all just get along?" Gary lauds Unitarians for not "discriminating" against anyone; proceeds to speak indiscriminately against everyone; and, ends saying, "the only belief system that does not discriminate in any way is [his] non-theism."

His confusion reminds me of John Lennon’s "Imagine." Lennon asks us to imagine "no religion," but proceeds to dream of a new world in distinctly religious concepts like "peace," "shared possessions," and "a brotherhood of man" (sounds like John’s borrowing from Jesus to me!). Gary, when you make sweeping, categorical statements like "Catholics discriminate"¦Islam discriminates"¦ religions discriminate," that’s the bad kind of discrimination! When religions discriminate between good and evil (Presbyterians feeding the hungry is good; ISIL raping and torturing women is bad) that is the good kind of discrimination!

Where We Agree

Bill and Gary agree that we must all work together to eliminate any form of discrimination that contributes to human degradation.