One could argue that religion has mellowed the savage breast, so to sepak. What still intrigues me is that the bloodiest wars in past and recent history were carried out by supposedly Christian nations. Crusades, Hundred Years War, War of the Roses, WWI and II. Perhaps the problem arises when humans are given the mouthpiece of spiritual revelation, such as the Pope proscribing the overthrow of the Muslims in the Holy Land. It seems that religion has always been a tool for the power hungry to impose their will on an unknowing public. The old saw "power corrupts but absolute power corrupts absolutely" could also add religion in with it.
The human condition in the past has needed two things, rule and religion. These two always seem to meld into each other. Perhaps what we should get rid of is religious influence in governance and policy making instead of getting rid of religion all together. If you can use religion to impose will it ceases to be what it originally set out to be, a personal relationship between you and your diety.
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