One of many things that led me to agnosticism after leaving the JW's was the cognitive dissonance I encountered with those in the mainstream churches, especially the really conservative ones. These types would scream out in protest (rightly so) on all of the current atrocities going on in the world regarding Islam and its radical extremists, but then justify the savage murders and slaughter perpetuated by Israel in the Old Testament.
Often I would take these passages and replace the names and places of these scriptures with current ones. For example 1 Samuel 15:3 reads "Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”
When I would post a statement like "Now go, attack the infidels and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys,’”
it was rightly declared to be hateful, evil and disgusting. But as soon as I told them it was a verse out of the Bible then the song and dance began of why it was not only the correct thing to do, but was sometimes told it was the only thing they should do.
When David and Saul returned from a battle they were met by folks chanting "Saul has killed his thousands and David his tens of thousands." Can you imagine people or a politician stating such a thing today and it being viewed as a positive thing? But again, the defenders will find a reason to put such repugnant behavior in a positive light.
Ever since the "sola scriptura" idea became popular a few hundred years ago and the "inerrancy of scripture" a few decades ago, it has created a group of people who will defend whatever terrible atrocity has occurred in its contents as long as the "good" folks were ones committing them.
Another, more recent interesting phenomenon, has cropped up since the American church has become bed partners with the Republican party. When I was a child in East Texas I used to remember how my grandparents and those of their generation used to criticize the Republicans because they were ungodly and lovers of money. It was a Republican president in office when with the stock market crash of 1929 occurred (Herbert Hoover).
Also an interesting note, it was the Democrats who were associated with war during the first part of the 1900's era. Woodrow Wilson (World War 1), Franklin Roosevelt (World War 2), Korean War (Harry Truman), Vietnam (Kennedy/Johnson). All but the last one were considered necessary and are generally viewed in a good light.
Then in the 1960's when what was the conservative political party of the majority of white church folks, the Democrats, a rebellion started when their party began taking up the mantle the Republicans started under Eisenhower in desegregating the schools. The vast majority of white southern Democrats were against this forced mingling with a people they considered to be inferior, and they rebelled. It was Alabama Democratic governor George Wallace who infamously stated ""segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever"
The Republicans being the clever and observant party they are, saw this huge group of people that were upset at their politicians and discovered the more they peppered their speeches with the word "God" and other Christian terms the more it appealed to them. This and the Democrats greedy attempt to be all things to all people backfired and within two decades millions who were once Democrat were now Republican.
This was an interesting marriage. A group of folks who adhered to one that spoke more about greed and the evils of excessive wealth to the party that fostered such behavior. Like the bible says "Bad associations, spoil useful habits" and this association was no exception. As the marriage grew tighter we saw the American church become less and less about the virtues of the simple life, humbleness and concern for the needy and downtrodden to one of wealth, arrogance and the need to keep folks agitated and in fear. I have heard some tell me that if Jesus were here today he would be a Republican, however it would not be the Jesus of the New Testament.
11 years ago, when I was still a Republican, I was invited to the home of a very wealthy person in San Jose. He and a few others present were great at telling folks what they wanted to hear. When he came to me for a few moments to chat, I told him that I was for the most part agnostic. His reply is one I will never forget. "Well so am I and most of the folks here. We just have to keep mentioning God and the like to keep the Dixie folks on board."
Since then I have become totally agnostic and a political independent. The ones running the Republican party could care less about God and country. They would abandon both in a New York minute if they had to choose between their riches and them.