Religion is ‘the new social evil’Robert Watts
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/the_tls/tls_selections/religion/article3779988.ece
A CHARITY set up by an ardent Christian to fight slavery and the opium
trade has identified a new social evil of the 21st century - religion.
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.
One said: “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.”
Many respondents called for state funding of church schools to be
ended.
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.
Tom Butler, the Bishop of Southwark, rejected the indictment of faith.
He said: “People meeting together, week after week, for wor****p,
sup****t and education in church, synagogue, temple, gurdwara and
mosque can not only help people build local community but can teach
children to become good citizens.”
However, Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society,
said he was “extremely pleased”.
“Britain has had it with religion,” he said.
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Alan "Ferrit" Ferris
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