158 posts so far and almost all of a very high quality!
(I will focus on Christianity as most people have done so far, but most of my points are valid for all major religions)
I am not a religious person but I have studied several religions. I have learned to distinguish between the core religion and how followers interpret that core. Most of the time I have no problem at all with the followers and I can often see that it has improved there life by giving them direction.
I have some problems with religions by themselves because they often don't seem to make much sense in these day and age. Religions are also often preaching tolerance but are themselves not tolerant towards other religions. Most followers have adopted religion to better fit into this day and age where religions are for more mixed when compared to previous times.
Some problems I have with religions that include a god-figure is that often that god-figure is all-powerful, but very humanlike at the same time. That also means that many human characteristics are imposed upon the god-figure and although often the god-figure acts like a human, it also acts in completely counterintuitive ways. God-like behavior isn't something I can understand.
The biggest problem ofcourse is when scriptures are turned into blind belief. When "It says so in the bible" is used to replace individual thought a lot of bad things can occur and have certainly occured in the past.
Just for reference I would like to add
this link. Please don't start discussing each and every occurence on that list. I certainly don't have enough historical and biblical knowledge to do so. Also, don't misunderstand my point and conclude from that link that I am a devilworshipper
The point that was made before that God isn't here to help mankind, but that mankind is here to worship God is very interesting for me. Especially since that worshipping is apparently the way to a good afterlife. I personaly don't believe in an afterlife but I never thought that I would be considered doomed because I didn't worship. I try to lead a life where I enjoy as much as possible while not bothering others and where I share my joy with others. These simple guidelines could be called my personal religion and really work for me.
In general I must say that religion on a personal level has never been a problem anywhere. Nobody has ever treated me badly because I wasn't of their beliefs or vice-versa. I have enjoyed many conversations and learned a lot about human nature and other religions this way.
Religion on a group-basis is something I have seen gone wrong. Very often not even baded on religious differences but based on other conflicts between the groups. Religion just formed the groups but wasn't the reason for the conflict.
Tolerance and interest is really all that is needed for different religions to get along and I have never seen that gone wrong personally
