CV, I think the problem is human nature - which is duplicitous, self serving, and not to be trusted.
If you read your histories, you will find that much of the religious abuse was caused by people wishing to maintain power over people holding alternate positions. While a small percentage of this may have had a religious basis, most of it was just your normal run of the mill egoism at work.
Your own email suggests an intolerance for people holding an alternate position from your own - how far would you be prepared to go (if you were given power) to ensure that those of a religious viewpoint were denied a voice?
By contrast, Jesus said we should be loving to mankind, and be charitable to our enemies. Unfortunately, most of us this a bit hard to follow.
