General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: This anti-Catholic crap is getting to be annoying [View all]JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)I guess we could say that bigotry and hate reproduce themselves generation after generation. My family struggled because of its strong Protestant faith including strong abolitionist tradition in recent centuries. And the stories are passed from generation to generation.
That explains many of the problems that religions have with each other. It isn't an excuse. It is the place where you begin to understand intolerance. Oh. Yes. My grandmother said . . . . And that is why I think . . . .
That doesn't may my thoughts better. Hopefully, it makes it easier for me (and others) to distance myself from my thoughts, from my prejudices and think afresh.
So when I said that about the history, I was hoping that people would recognize that we are talking about ghosts from the pasts of our families. And some of them really were ghosts. There were many wars and much persecution by the various religions. There still are and is in some places in the world. We are so lucky to have our First Amendment, and when we have violated it, we have often paid dearly.