Why do people assume all members of one religion are all the same, politically or otherwise?

[buddhallah_the_christ]

Christians define their faith. One core tenet of Protestantism is the ability and right of every man to interpret the Bible in his own way, regardless of what the Southern Baptist Convention or Pentecostals say now. There is one Christianity only in the more general sense. In practice, there are gay-friendly Christians in all denominations. Mike Huckabee is a world away from Jimmy Carter, although both are Baptists, as Rick Santorum is a world away from the late Mario Cuomo, both Italian Catholics.
Why?

 

[HaShev]

Individual beliefs vary witin a sect and then between sects in the same religion, sometimes Catholics can have more Judaic views while some Jews stray and have more Babylonian and pagan influenced precepts making them seem more Catholic in belief. Christian sects like JW's are more Jewish in beliefs then they are Christian, some SDA are too while others are not. Some SDA, JW'S AND Mormons are Michaelines while others are Jesuit.

 

[theDoctorisIn]

Because simplicity is a vice.

 

[Grandma]

Anyone that assumes that all members of ANY group

A): are socially retarded, they have no knowledge of what "groups" really are

B): are incredibly stupid to think that they can influence those of us that are more worldly and more socially integrated.

 

[Delta4Embassy]

Christians define their faith. One core tenet of Protestantism is the ability and right of every man to interpret the Bible in his own way, regardless of what the Southern Baptist Convention or Pentecostals say now. There is one Christianity only in the more general sense. In practice, there are gay-friendly Christians in all denominations. Mike Huckabee is a world away from Jimmy Carter, although both are Baptists, as Rick Santorum is a world away from the late Mario Cuomo, both Italian Catholics.
Why?

Because 'lumping' is easier. People are like water and find the path of least resistance. Why accept of the millions of religious people there might well be millions of variations if that takes millions of times longer than simply saying "This is bad." and doing something more fun?