[hvac]

Yes, because the difference is that they are essentially immutable personal traits. The parent was presenting this scenario as an equivalent one and I don't think they are.

[silicon2401]

How is religion any more or less immutable from political beliefs? In my view both are fully equivalent.

[username90]

Religion is a protected class to stop zealots from waging wars on each other, got to nip it in the bud before tension builds up. It is a very rational reason even if the protection shouldn't be needed in theory.

[hvac]

In some cases (e.g. Jews, Amish) the lines between race/religion/national origin become pretty blurry. I agree that it's the most ambiguous of the classes, though.

[throwawayswede]

Personal traits are always mutable. What seems (and may be) immutable to you could be mutable to others.

[hvac]

It's technically true that you could find some way to dye your skin a different colour, but I don't think most people would find that to be a realistic solution to anything.