Study links religion and racism

[BR_Parkway]

http://uscnews.usc.edu/university/study_links_religion_and_racism.html

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus warned religious listeners against what today would be called “ingroup prejudice”: the tendency to think less of outsiders, especially those of another race.

The Samaritan, a member of a group despised by Israelites of that time, proves himself more charitable to an injured traveler than two members of the Jewish clergy.

Devout listeners startled by the Samaritan’s charity would have had to confront a difficult message: Piety and prejudice keep close company. It appears not much has changed.

A meta-analysis of 55 independent studies carried out in the United States with more than 20,000 mostly Christian participants has found that members of religious congregations tend to harbor prejudiced views of other races.

In general, the more devout the community, the greater the racism, according to the authors of the analysis, led by Wendy Wood, Provost Professor of Psychology and Business at USC College and the USC Marshall School of Business. The study appears in the February issue of Personality and Social Psychology Review.

[krawhitham]

1. They needed a study to tell them this?

[mopinko]

2. more from the department of duh, hmm? nt

[Behind the Aegis]

3. Where the hell are people getting money for this?!?!

I want some! For a measley $500,000, I will provide a study that links water to wetness. For a cool million, I will show the complex links between "no," shit," and "sherlock."

[BR_Parkway]

4. And we wonder sometimes why college costs so much

[mod mom]

5. Certainly NOT surprising.

[Iggo]

6. Man! I gotta get me some study money! (n/t)