News-Record.com

Here's an interesting counterpoint:

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/living/religion/12968662.htm

Note: the Charlotte web site requires registration. If you don't want to bother setting up an account, use this info that I got from bugmenot.com:

hehateme@hotmail.com
zxcvbn

Well, since many states in the U.S. are run by self-proclaimed "true Christians" (I never cease to be amazed how many evangelicals discount Catholics as Christians, by the way), I am not surprised. Here in GSO it seems clear. If someone is not labeled with the "right" church affiliation, doesn't hobnob with the powers that be who attend such an such church, etc., etc. they are much less likley to get "in" the network. Some Jewish businesspersons ahve prospered, of course; they are respected (but probably whispered about). I doubt many Muslims are "out" as such, for fear of economic and other reprisals. The lowly atheist is simply ignored/dismissed or openly despised, distrusted.

The amazing thing is, the higher one's level of eduaction, the LESS likely is regular church-going. So, what about all the talk of getting good grades and going to a good college, etc., in order to make more money? Is that a lie, too?

It's a pretty steady truism among all cultures that success is directly related to how well one functions within that culture. The Jews in Europe were famous for giving peferential treatment to "their own" in business matters... until it backfired on them in Germany. Christians do much the same thing. Every now and then, you'll see directories of "Christian Businesses," looking to drum up clients among local churches. We simply don't live in a pure "meritocracy." Probably never will.