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Because the leaders of religions are no different than the worst politicians. At the core, the religions' leadership crave power and the ability to persuade no different than any politician.

It is only because the allusion of G-d's approval do these people get away with it.

My GF does matrimonial law. She says many Jewish couple treat each other worse than animals in the wild do. The same for other "straight" marriages in that sense.

The bottom line is that morality and spirituality, not the particular denomination, is what should be emphasized.

What I also find is that many people for some reason suspend all common sense and rationality when issues of religion come into play. Its actually amazing to see otherwise smart people believe the most ridiculous things just because the man in robes says so.

Religion can be taken too far, of that, there is no question. Nevertheless, being in a church, a good church on a regular basis is good for a man's spirit, regardless of what anybody thinks. However, choosing church is like choosing a wife; choose wisely. Additionally, choosing no church family at all is not choosing wisely, unless there is literally no good church in your area, which I would really have trouble believing no matter where you lived.

The bottom line is that morality and spirituality, not the particular denomination, is what should be emphasized.

That Jesus Christ died for remission of sins should be emphasized first, morality second. Morality and lifestyle changes are pretty much automatic anyway if you truly have faith and love Christ enough to follow Him. Faith without works is dead. The good works are not your salvation, but the indicator of your salvation.

"Its actually amazing to see otherwise smart people believe the most ridiculous things just because the man in robes says so. "

Dittoooooooooooooooooooooo!

I think it's perfectly alright to have a smorgasbord religion- that's what they all are, historically, anyway- amalgamations and borrowings and "reinvented" "traditions" from competing cultures ... If a person blindly accepts his parents' religion, it's just another excuse for, in a sense, ancestor worship.

Still, if you can't take the time to teach your children your own values, then I guess the next best thing is to throw some organized religion at them. And then wonder why some people grow up to be insufferable ideologues.
OK, I'd better shut-up now.

My GF does matrimonial law. She says many Jewish couple treat each other worse than animals in the wild do.

Anyone who does "matrimonial law" (divorce law) is going to have a skewed view of how married people treat each other-- they never see the happilly married ones.