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Religion, Secularism, and Xenophobia
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-secular-life/201807/religion-secularism-and-xenophobiaTwo new surveys were recently published, both showing the same thing: Religious people were more likely to be suspicious and unwelcoming of people who are different, while secular people were more likely to be open and accepting of those who are of a different race, ethnicity, religion, or country.
Put another way: In the surveys, tribalism and ethnocentrism were strongly correlated with being religious, while exhibiting a more universalistic, cosmopolitan embracing of all of humanity was strongly correlated with being secular.
...These two studies are not outliers. Social psychological studies, over many decades, have found the same thing: The more religious people are, the more likely they are to manifest an “us vs. them” orientation. As leading Canadian social-psychologist Bob Altemeyer has observed, most relevant studies illustrate that “the more one goes to church, the more likely one will be prejudiced against a variety of others.” Or as American psychologist of religion Ralph Wood similarly echoes, based on his assessment of existing research, “as a broad generalization, the more religious an individual is, the more prejudiced that person is.” Indeed, as a massive meta-analysis conducted in 2009 by Duke University professor Deborah Hall—who analyzed 55 separate studies teasing out at the relationship between religion and racism—found, strongly religious Americans exhibit the highest levels of racism, while atheist and agnostics exhibit the lowest levels.
...Thus, in these days of growing nationalism and xenophobia, the humanistic and universalistic values more closely linked to secular culture are truly needed. After all, we are all humans and we want the same things: life, liberty, and freedom from fear and oppression.
Put another way: In the surveys, tribalism and ethnocentrism were strongly correlated with being religious, while exhibiting a more universalistic, cosmopolitan embracing of all of humanity was strongly correlated with being secular.
...These two studies are not outliers. Social psychological studies, over many decades, have found the same thing: The more religious people are, the more likely they are to manifest an “us vs. them” orientation. As leading Canadian social-psychologist Bob Altemeyer has observed, most relevant studies illustrate that “the more one goes to church, the more likely one will be prejudiced against a variety of others.” Or as American psychologist of religion Ralph Wood similarly echoes, based on his assessment of existing research, “as a broad generalization, the more religious an individual is, the more prejudiced that person is.” Indeed, as a massive meta-analysis conducted in 2009 by Duke University professor Deborah Hall—who analyzed 55 separate studies teasing out at the relationship between religion and racism—found, strongly religious Americans exhibit the highest levels of racism, while atheist and agnostics exhibit the lowest levels.
...Thus, in these days of growing nationalism and xenophobia, the humanistic and universalistic values more closely linked to secular culture are truly needed. After all, we are all humans and we want the same things: life, liberty, and freedom from fear and oppression.
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The glorious knower of all things... or maybe not 
