I'm sorry to say I agree.
> "The basis for ANY religion is that religion's prophet or messenger's actions for its followers to emulate. Particularly in times of 'hardship'."
That may be the basis, but over the centuries nominal followers tend to go off on paths of their own. How many Lutherans are much like Luther? How many Methodists are like John Wesley? For that matter how many Christians imitate Christ? Thomas a Kempis wrote a book called The Imitation of Christ (in Latin De Imitatione Christi). With very few exceptions not much of it reminds me of modern Christians.
“That may be the basis, but over the centuries nominal followers tend to go off on paths of their own. How many Lutherans are much like Luther? How many Methodists are like John Wesley?”
Ok.
Though most terrorists by far in the last 4 decades have called themselves Muslims.