An incredibly interesting thread that, as many such discussions I have witnessed and participated in, started to concentrate solely on the difference between religion and science. I am a strong believer in my religion called Night Magick (There is a website about it too) and science. We need science to educate us about the physical world, or we would most likely never grow up. We would, quite possibly, be extinct by now. Science is to me the accumulated wisdom of the physical world. To use a really crude example: A caveman/neanderthal/early human had a bad experience going across a river. He tells this to his son and asks him to be careful. The son isn't very adventurous but remembers what his father told him. He tells his son that his father warned him about that river. That son isn't very adventurous either, but remembers what his father told him and tells his son. So on for a few generations and that cautionary tale of the river is a "truth" or an "absolute" in the mind of the descendants of that original man with the ill fortune. At one time this is both science and religion. Someone did once have a bad experience with it. Later generations may have embellished the original tale to include monsters/devils/angry gods to explain why they shall be cautious when crossing that river.

We have empirical proof that that river is hard to cross, and we have a "truth"/"absolute" of an evil deity.

We must be adventurous and challenge the "truths" and "absolutes" of the old to find the absolute truth behind it all. Whether it be religion or science we may at one point in time find "The Absolute Truth" but that will most likely only happen when Religion and Science joins hands and work together to achieve that goal.

That is my point of view, and this is my "Absolute Truth" of the world. On to the subject that originally started this thread: Do I base people solely on religious convictions?

I believe myself to have gained such self-insight to know what is religious judgement (upbringing/teaching) of a person and what is personal judgement (experience/observation) of a person.

My family it seems, are all die-hard racists one way or another. I dislike that strongly. Off course, even in their ill-mannered judgement of other people, I see proof of their stance in my own convictions too, but where I seem to differ from them, is that they don't see the persons. They see skin-colour, religion, etc. They judge based on a large (or small) group of individuals that get a lot of attention, and that attention is usually bad, because that's what ultimately makes the head-lines.

What I am saying is my point of view is better explained through an example: I see someone of clearly Arabic origin. My first thought is almost always that of the society-imposed image of this group of people. Then I recognise it in myself and give the person the benefit of the doubt. I ask myself why I thought that based on what others have told me. This person could possibly become my best friend in the whole world, so why should I let others decide what I shall think?

On to another subject lightly discussed here: Transsexuality/gender confusion or what you'd like to call it.
I don't think I would feel uncomfortable being friendly with someone displaying themself as male while having female sexual instruments, and vice versa. I have met a few (not many) such and I find I don't find it uncomfortable being with them. I find it uncomfortable to think about how to ask them about how it is to be like this. What they experience as a result of their fate/conviction/choice. I know they probably have gotten the question many times before so I keep wondering whether it's appropriate for me to ask them too, or if it's as boring to them to tell it to yet another person as it is for me to explain my epilepsy to yet another person. I would rather not talk about it, but since it might be life-threatening for myself not to warn my friends and acquaintances of my illness, I find I have to give them a short version no matter what if I meet them more than three times. So, for me, the world is a world full of possibilities and hurdles to overcome my ingrained beliefs.

I am judgemental, I don't believe any person on this planet can say they don't without lying, but I try not to be too judgemental, thereby limiting myself and my experience of the world.

I believe that once in the future I will have kids. I have my religion and off course I will educate my children about it, but I hope to be able to learn more about other religions as well, as I intend to educate my children about them. I will not willingly let my children be baptised or otherwise "bound" to a religion before they themselves are old enough to make the choice. I hope to give them a firm moral ground, free will and enough protection to make them secure and self-confident but not limited in any way.

This is probably the most complete insight into my mind anyone can get in one short post. To know me deeper than this, you will probably have to spend time with me.