I find this interesting. One finds that there is biblical mandate set for racial denigration and slavery. Also, it is very true that religious conservatism has been closely tied to politics for as long as they both have existed. Egypt, Greece, Rome, Japan, China, Byzantium, the Holy Roman Empire, Switzerland, France, Germany, Austria, England, Holland, Spain, Portugal, Aztecs, Olmecs, Mixtecs, Maya... and so forth. The Dark Ages were brought on by religious/political conservatives and the Rennaisance was birthed by humanist free-thinkers who equally despised the dogmatism of the Church, Calvin, Knox, Savonarolla, and any other religious/political despot.