Toxic Religion

In Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon (Viking 2006), Daniel Dennett writes of how it is essential for society to carefully examine its religion and reform and change it as necessary so that we do not "pass on a legacy of ever more toxic forms of religion to our descendent's." It is an intriguing thought. Can something as good as religion be "toxic?"
The dictionary on my little MacBook that I am using to type this article defines the word "toxic" as "poisonous." Religion as a form of poison? Yes, I think all would agree, at least to a point, that it is true. When we encounter reports in the media of polygamous sects that "marry" fourteen and fifteen year old girls to old men in what really amounts to sex-slavery, we find ourselves appalled at such a repugnant notion. When we discover the motive behind all of this is religion, we are forced to say that, at least in this case, religion has become toxic.
There are other examples. We can think of the Branch Davidians and their "sinful messiah," bearing the sins of his community by making claim to his follower's wives. Or, maybe we might consider the Aryan Nations or other white supremacist "churches" which build a religion based on hate.
Well said, you agree, these forms of religion are nothing if not toxic. Indeed they are. However, the seeds of toxic religion plant themselves in much deeper soil, and are far more deceptive. I propose that the seeds of toxicity that produced such acts as 9/11 appear in many religious movements in America. This is not to say that common American religious movements would ever condone an act such as 9/11. Yet, we do see and hear of sentiments akin to such hate not so different on our television screens regularly.
One case that comes to mind is that of a popular television evangelist suggesting that AIDS is a punishment of a vindictive (he would no doubt say loving) God for homosexuality in America. If so, how do you account for the thousands infected that never had any contact with homosexuality or drug use? Should they suffer? Should innocent children? A religion with a vindictive God at its heart is a toxic religion.
Another prominent evangelist, who once publicly endorsed the Republican presidential candidate, has similarly pinned the fate of New Orleans on the wickedness of the city. Does God really do things like that?
Other prominent evangelical leaders have pooh-poohed global warming and done what they could to keep the faithful from supporting efforts to recue the planet. One writer of a popular fiction series concerning the return of Christ sees the whole world ending with all Jews being killed or becoming Christians. Although this writer may give lip service to a pro-Israel stance, is this not really the height of anti-Semitism? In the end, all Jews are gone.
There are Muslim haters and proclaimers of a future Christian/Muslim war-as if the crusades (also sparked by religious fervor) were not enough. Toxic religion seems to be everywhere. Moreover, we find it in most of the world's great faiths. There is Christian toxicity, Muslim toxicity, Jewish toxicity, and so on it goes. This begs a question: What is the common denominator?
In a word, xenophobia, a fear of the different and the new. Because of religion's tendency to xenophobia, it is often toxic. It is not just toxic in Baghdad or Jerusalem, or in New York, it is toxic here, right in our neighborhood, right in our own hearts and minds.
Healthy religion should serve to enlighten and make one more tolerant. However, often narrow-mindedness and a super literalism concerning the traditions and scriptures from the world's religions make religion quite toxic. Commonsense calls for a different approach. If something is not working anymore (if it ever did), it is madness to keep hanging onto it.
What we need to do is to take another look at our religions and ask if they really support a narrow-minded, "my way or no way" approach to life. Isn't there something universal in religion that preaches broadmindedness and love? Can we find that kernel of light in our religions? Can we fan that into a flame that burns so brightly that all toxicity burns away as so much dross? All religions I know of have some version of the Golden Rule in their traditions. Maybe that is the place to start. The world has about all the toxic religion it can endure. It is time for a revival. It is time for a reformation. It is time to put away toxic religion.

Toxic Religion

Polk Audio Introduces First Table Top Radio with iTunes Technology

With the announcement of Apple's new service called iTunes tagging, Polk Audio followed with their own product launch by announcing their I-Sonic Entertainment System. Polk Audio's I-Sonic Entertainment System 2 incorporates the new iTunes Tagging Service available on High Definition Radio technology.
Last Thursday, Apple, iBiquity Digital, and several major radio broadcasting groups unveiled a free service called "iTunes tagging." iTunes tagging is a service that enables users using High Definition Radio receivers that are equipped with a Tag button, to tag songs that they hear on FM stations so that they can subsequently purchase the song through iTunes. According to Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice president of iPod Marketing, their iTunes tagging service will take music discovery on the radio to the next level. Josiwak further adds, "When a song plays on your HD Radio that you like, a simple push of a button will tag it and later give you the chance to preview, purchase, and enjoy it with iTunes and your iPod"
Bob Struble, the CEO of iBiquity Digital stated that according to research, radio is the main source of music discovery. Struble said that with the iTunes Tagging, HD Radio will provide a cool way for listeners to capture songs that they hear on the radio, buy them on iTunes and then enjoy the songs they bought later on.
Polk Audio's I-Sonic Entertainment System 2 is a follow up on the company's I-Sonic Entertainment System introduced last year. Aside from incorporating the iTunes Tagging technology, the I-Sonic Entertainment System 2 is compatible for use with Apple's iPod, has a High Definition Radio tuner, Digital Signal Processing, S-Video connector, auxiliary input, dual alarm clock, 24 radio presets, and a wireless remote.
According to Polk Audio's press release, the I-Sonic ES2's iTunes tag button is located on the device's front panel as well as the remote control. iTunes tagging works when the user presses the tag button, the I-Sonic Entertainment System 2 will store the information about the tagged songs on its memory and then transfers the tags to an iPod. When the consumer connects the iPod to their computer, iTunes will automatically present the songs in a Tagged play list so that the consumers can preview the songs and then when they chose to buy the song, they can download it.
According to Polk Audio, the I-Sonic Entertainment System 2 to measures 14.5" x 9" x 4.75", making the size of the device perfect for table top, counters or night stands. The I-Sonic Entertainment System 2 will be available in October at retail stores, Apple stores, or direct from Polk Audio's website and will cost $499.
SOURCE:
iBiquity Digital Corp. Press Release, Polk Audio Introduces I-Sonic(R) Entertainment System 2
iBiquity Digital Corp. Press Releae, iTunes Tagging for HD Radio Broadcasting Announced

Polk Audio Introduces First Table Top Radio with iTunes Technology