No matter what I write about, I always find myself asking 'why do I think that?'. And, when I trace the thoughts back far enough I always wind up in the same place. There really is a single defining principle which defines, for me, all human interaction. I call it the Happenstance of Birth. Some have referred to this principal when they have said, "There, but for the grace of God, go I". Others refuse to see it because it would undermine their perceived birth status, or contradict much of what they have been taught as Truth.
The first, and most basic, truth is that when a child takes it's first breath it's mind is clean and uncluttered. Psychologists and sociologists have determined that the new born does, in fact, have a strong tendency toward a particular temperament. That temperament, however, can be exaggerated or minimized depending on the social environment. It is important to note that temperament does not determine values or understanding, teaching does, and teaching begins on day one.
So, what does this tell us about ourselves and the people around us? What conclusions can we draw about the positions people take on the ideas they encounter, and the way they behaviorally interact with society? What can we discern about the various religions people practice here in the U.S.? Further, what does it tell us about the other 6,500,000,000 people in the world?