Unshackled,
Yes, it's true too many are fighting over religion. I wonder, though, how much of this "religious" fight is actually due to nationalistic, cultural and racial prejudices and bias. The Taliban are fighting for power really, the Israelis for national survival or existing borders, the Christian right in the U.S. for political power, and so on. Did the Catholic Church really burn people at the stake over religion or was it to keep control and power over the masses. Religion has been and is being used as an excuse for war. Take away Islam and would Islamic terrorists become peaceful men and women or would they find another reason/excuse to fight for what they want?
Are greed and hunger for power and territory all due to religion? If all religion disappeared would the world be at peace? No wars, no political greed, no political and social manipulation, no deception on the part of national leaders and corporations etc? People are easily manipulated and led. Take away religion and national leaders and those who want to be national leaders would simply use the old standby, nationalism, which is today alive and well all over the world.
I do agree that religion is getting a beating and for the most part rightfully so. Not because all religions are bad in themselves but because most religious moderates, and their leaders, are keeping too silent or speaking too softly. Allowing the fanatics of any religion to continue to run the media show is wrong. And I do agree that too many Christians are arrogant and self-righteous. Also that too many Christians run with the wrong scriptures in hand in order to make a show of piety and condemnation of others. And that like political leaders whose power can go to their heads so too there are Christian leaders who are drunk with power and who love their organization or religious hierarchy more than they love their members. But then, the other side, is that there are also those atheists who upon interacting with a Christian take out all their frustrations upon someone who had nothing to do with what hurt them and may be someone who is seeking mutual understanding and common ground and not to convert. Whether from an ancestral chimp, mitochrondrial eve or edenic eve we are all related and all brothers and sisters trying to understand life and what all this means this beautiful earth, our children, and what the future is for all mankind or even if there is a future.
I appreciated your non-judgmental reply. Thank you.