How do republicans call themselves christians when they would sell their mothers for a buck?

[Scootaloo]

4. Because for most people, "Christian" is a tribal identifier and not a practice

Same for most religions, honestly.

For slightly fewer people, religion is also an excuse. I've noticed that religious morality tends to provide exceptions to ethical behavior. So for people who want to hate others, but can't find an ethical way to do this, religion gives them that excuse. The Phelpsians who know it's unethical to scream hatred at someone's funeral, but who believe that Paul's letters grant them exception. The Jihadist who knows it's wrong to murder, but accepts it as truth when his favorite Imam says "except when...". The Jewish family who would never touch someone else's candybar, but believe it when their scripture tells them someone else's land is really theirs to take. The Hindu who knows that democracy and equality are the foundation of his nation's new prosperity, but who finds authorization to keep the dalit underfoot because of religious caste systems.