Religion and faith are unique and powerful forces within almost every society.
Historically, religion has helped bring an end to slavery. It has helped promote racial integration, equal rights for women, and equal rights for gays and lesbians. It has motivated individuals to generate support services for those in society who need uplifting — the poor, the sick, the hurting, and the downtroden.
A simple history lesson shows that unfortunately, certain religious teachings also have been used to justify human slavery, racial segregation, oppression of women and discrimination against homosexual men and women.
We as Americans can see clearly how religious teachings have been used in the United States to justify prejudice and discrimination against minorities.
We can look back at the words recorded in those dark chapters in our history and the evidence is undeniable:
"[Slavery] was established by decree of Almighty God...it is sanctioned in the Bible, in both Testaments, from Genesis to Revelation...it has existed in all ages, has been found among the people of the highest civilization, and in nations of the highest proficiency in the arts."
—Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America.
"The right of holding slaves is clearly established in the Holy Scriptures, both by precept and example."
—Rev. R. Furman, D.D., Baptist, of South Carolina
"Who demand the ballot for woman? They are not the lovers of God, nor are they believers in Christ, as a class. There may be exceptions, but the majority prefer an infidel's cheer to the favor of God and the love of the Christian community. It is because of this tendency that the majority of those who contend for the ballot for woman cut loose from the legislation of Heaven, from the enjoyments of home, and drift to infidelity and ruin."
— Justin Fulton, 1869, in opposition to women's right to vote.
"Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages."
— Statement by Virginia trial judge in 1959 case that led to 1967 U.S. Supreme Court striking down laws in 16 states that prohibited interracial marriage.
It is difficult to imagine that less than 30 years ago in over 15 states one of today's leading conservative Supreme Court Justices, Clarence Thomas, a black man, could have been charged with a felony for marrying his current wife, a white woman.
For the vast majority of Americans, this kind of discrimination, often justified with misguided religious teachings, would be unthinkable today.
Faith In America asks a simple question:
Is using religious teachings to deny equal rights to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people any less wrong than using religious teaching to discriminate against people of color, against equality for women or against people of different cultures wanting to marry?
History has a way of imparting simple truths.
Religion-based bigotry — let's end it now and forever.
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