Reply #148: It is religion, faith to be more precise, not Islam

[ProgressiveAmPatriot]

Whenever "I have faith that" becomes a "logical" justification for public policy or legal decisions, there are problems. After all, faith is a belief despite an absence of evidence. This leads to problems at home and abroad. I want religious progressives to play a stong role in the progressive movement. Dr. King was inspirational, however, his moral authority didn't come from the bible or faith. The way I know this is that he didn't go around quoting the passages which endorse (or at least don't forbid) slavery and he didn't ask us to simply have faith that their would one day be civil rights in this country. He upheld the principles of fairness and equality, which are secular progressive values. Everywhere religious progressives take solid, fact based positions, they are refusing to follow the basic prescription of religion which is faith. "Have Faith" or "Just believe" does not make for sound policy. Without faith, I do not know how you justify preventing scientists from carrying out promising embryonic stem cell research which is needed to improve people's quality of life and hopefully save lives. Without faith, I do not know how you can deny evolution. Without faith, I do not know how you can justify the concept of a God's Chosen People. Without faith, I do not know how you can get someone to strap a bomb to their chest and blow them self up in a crowded bus.