Waves of Prejudice Move Across the Country

Is prejudice in human brains there because of evolution? That is, was it helpful for survival somewhere deep in history? Or is it there because it is the easiest explanation for some problem? Whatever, it seems like it has always been there and is something we all should work harder to eliminate. 

Christianity, at least some people who self-identify as Christians, can be the first to point fingers and hate. The faith was used to justify slavery, segregation and condemnation of interracial marriage. Certainly, Christianity did not invent this. From what we know of "prehistory", this kind of thinking was in the human brain before Christianity arrived. Some in the faith just glopped on to it. I know atheists who buy into myths about people different than themselves. A portion of humans enjoy myths that point figures of hate at people who are different. 

One group facing prejudice today in the U.S. are people of the Islamic faith. Islam has been practiced in this country since its beginning. Today there are about 5.5 million Muslims in the U.S. Apparently, it is both growing a bit but also, like all religions, experiencing large declines among youth. There are congregations with money to build mosques, but some local governments have turned down applications. 

Within the Jewish faith is a branch with insists Islam is a danger to the world. The enemy of the Jewish faith has shifted from the Christian Hitler to Muslims in Isarael.

"Concerned citizens" north of Dallas have been trying to deny a permit for a mosque surrounded by housing and shopping. A candidate for statewide office declared, "I will not rest until ever single Muslim has been removed from Texas."  

Muslims I know and know about say those who call themselves Muslims but advocate killing people, like those of 9/11 are not genuine Muslims. They are instead a knock off group who have their own religion. 

When we commemorate the anniversary of 9/11, we need to remember that all religions contain common criminals. That is who was responsible for that infamous day. A Christian did the Oklahoma bombing. He was executed. No Christian churches have been condemned because of Oklahoma.

We all need to be suspicious of each wave of prejudice.