It's them harming others that I don't agree with. Christians, Hindus, Muslims, etc have its share of extremists and devout people whose convoluted ways harm others. And based on what I have read & the responses from religious debates, people are religious/believe in god solely because they don't want to go to hell, not because they love him. Not all are like this, I know, but many are. Though maybe they help others out of selflessness. I know couple of religious people who are selfless. It looks like I'm generalizing (and at the time, I might have been), but I truly am not.
Would they do it if Jesus didn't want them to? If it didn't make them look good and increase their chances of getting into heaven?
I have defended religion and think it is/was necessary to keep order, but many of its followers go too far. India's religious way of doing things holds back its growth as a society, where women are oppressed severely and lower the caste you go, the lower the respect. Christians will refer to the Bible to justify hatred, whether treating colored people like crap or hating homosexuals. Many followers aren't evil, but they can't say they're purehearted either. But when I said many of its followers are problematic, I was mainly thinking extremists and people who go too far.
And the Bible basically implies god doesn't give a crap as long as his ego is satisfied. If you don't pray to him and stuff, you go to hell even if you are a super person. If he wants to prove a point that he has loyal followers, he will not have an issue giving them a shitty life, and then bribing them to make up for it. God is happy to flood the world and kill sinners, but he won't do anything to help the world as it is now, with people being killed and all (Boko Haram?). I am not being offensive, I chose my words carefully, but I find it hard not to think of god of anything but what I said, given the Bible and what people have said.
I enjoy reading lores of religions as well, my favorite being Greek and Egypt. I find it fascinating. Doesn't mean I have to tolerate or accept many of its followers' ways of thinking or actions derived from their beliefs. I am quite sure majority are embarrassed by action of few, especially by the extremists' actions. I know many Muslims are disgusted with ISIS, honor killings, and all.
I have seen no reason to believe that many religious people aren't devout out of selfishness. If you tell them there's no such thing as hell or heaven, will they still believe in god? Live a good life and help others? If god is truly a benevolent being, then why does he not help his followers? Why does he not get rid of the sinners? Why would he give one of his devout followers a shitty life just to prove a point to Satan, even if he made up for it? Why would he lose his temper when Adam and Eve defied his wish?
