= new reply since forum marked as read
I think among religious folk there is definitely a percentage (small as it may be--at least in my experience) who are as kind hearted as they can possibly be, but overall, I find religious folk obnoxious, critical to a fault, and mean spirited--much like the god they worship--a god who would allow a few to flourish beyond the pale and the many to suffer unspeakable hardships.
The religious would force a mother to give birth against her will and thus subject a child to a hellish life. The religious are big on retribution and small minded towards money being budgeted for prevention. They tend towards bigotry, looking upon those of other ethnicities (sp?) and religions as somehow not up to par. I don't like how many of the religious think.
Having said that, I can't help but believe that there's some kind of entity behind the universe (but most emphatically not in the biblical sense). I guess I come by that feeling by looking at some of the beauty within nature. But I'm also thinking that undoubtedly these "feelings" are the residuals of my religious upbringing. I think bringing a youngster up and subjecting them to religious training is akin to child abuse. What they manage to cram into a child's brain is criminal.
I truly believe that children can be brought up to be kind and considerate of others for no other reason than it feels good. Some of your more prejudice types come from the religious community, although I guess they can come from the secular group if children do not experience empathy and consideration from their parents. Nurturing is the key.
But for religious folk to think that morals come from a religious upbringing is sheer drivel and downright untrue.
End rant 
