Why do some progressive Democrats ignore bigotry and intolerance in religions?

[thucythucy]

22. Here I'm going to post a much more general reply

for what it's worth.

I think atheists make a big mistake when they assume that religious affiliation in this country is primarily motivated by theology or belief. I think the largest role played by religion in this society is social. People go to church, temple or mosque to feel a part of a community, in a way for which there is, for them at least, no secular counterpart. They go to a particular congregation because their parents went, or a friend invited them, or they just stopped by and liked the vibe. For very many people this has little to do with politics or any particular religious sensibility. The right has been able to better coopt churches precisely because it seems to have understood this reality in ways that progressives--in my experience--have not. This all may now be mitigated at least in part by social media--which may be one reason why church attendance is declining so among younger people. But church "coffee hours" and such are primarily social gatherings, as are women's group meetings, meetings for young fathers, employment workshops, etc. Just as an example, I know religious people who visit congregants in prison. They do this because yes, the Bible tells them to, but more so because they actually know the prisoner. Indeed, it's almost a substitute for family.

In part this may be why atheists and atheism have made so little progress in the States. If atheists really wanted to strike a blow against organized religion in all its forms, they would, instead of arguing theology, think about ways of providing in secular society the sort of community and support provided by religious organizations. In part this means, of course, supporting a progressive Democratic agenda, which supports a social safety net that insures people in all parts of the country an alternative to religious charity. But further than that, I think it means building an atheist community that goes beyond simply announcing there is no god and expecting Americans en masse to therefore abandon their religion. What that would look like I have no idea, but it might be worth while to at least consider the possibilities.

Finally, to get back to the OP, I think one attraction religious communities offer is that they often include a diversity of people you won't find in many other places. Where else do college professors and high school drop outs gather for a single purpose? Or renters and home owners? Or single parents and long time married couples? Or, more to the point, people with divergent political views? Of course, American congregations usually represent all the usual class and racial divisions--sometimes even more so--but religious services in my experience generally offer a more widespread variety of participants than most secular gatherings. For instance--where else in our culture do teenagers and grandparents socialize on a weekly basis? As an aside: this is why working with religious groups is so effective politically. Whether it was the abolition movement of the 1850s, the civil rights movement a hundred years later, or right wing politics of the 1980s and beyond, involving congregations has always been a highly effective tool for political activists. I can't offhand think of an equivalent secular counterpart.

Anyway, I have to scoot now for a while. I'll check back later. And please excuse my long windedness.