Pseudo-religious Leaders

I woke up and immediately got lost in the black velvetiness of my thoughts. I began to think of all the religious antagonisms (around the world) and the quarrels, disagreements and wars they have generated.

I couldn’t possibly, in full conscience, deny the importance religion has in society: just like the law exists to control the actions of citizens; religion exists to remind them that they have a Creator (who knows the hearts and deeds of men) and, consequently, to regulate their behaviour (thus assisting the state in maintaining law and order). However this is not entirely what has been happening.

My intellect has produced the following concept: religions should apply themselves solely to teach Res Dei (= the issues of God) and set aside their political opinions, judgements; and most of all, refrain from telling people that each of them are better and truer than the next one.

Claiming a Supra truth (over the other belief systems) and making judgements are the main cause for chasing people away from the spiritual path.
Please allow me to explain myself better: if one views human beings as brothers and then a religious representative publicly shouts that because they profess a different religion they are either infidels, disloyal to God, that they militate against Him, or that they will burn in hell, that they won’t get in the kingdom of heavens, or that their name won’t be written in the book of life etc…what incentive could this person possibly have to want to learn more about (or remain in) any religion that teaches these things?
When one wants to belong to a certain religious community and its chief representative starts saying that what he is (or represents) is a sin; that his very thoughts, speech, opinions, memories, philosophy of life are sinful; that in order to be part of the community one has to yield to brainwash-like sessions so that his view of the world is reprogrammed (ending up by doing exactly what was done to him initially: pointing fingers and accusing people of being sinful for anything and nothing)…what does this mean exactly?
If a belief system encourages (and sometimes forces) people not to watch TV, not to listen to the radio (apart from religious stations – the “right” ones, of course), not to consider other spiritual books apart from their own…why should a sensible person fall for this?
When the head of any belief system encourages his congregants to murder fellow humans in the name of God, when the real purpose behind this suggestion has nothing to do with God, Himself; but with politics…whom can rely on such religious leaders (who militate against life, thus against God)?
What does it mean when a religious leader entices a congregant to take innocent lives in exchange of 7 virgins in Heaven (when, despite the rumours, he can get them here, on earth, and create his own paradise)?
When a religion does not evolve with times and maintains the same demodé rhetoric…whom can even consider taking a seat and debate with its representatives?

And what is the result of the irresponsibility of these pseudo-religious preachers? People (those who refuse to think for themselves and listen to their inner voice) get disappointed, then erroneously blame God (and consequently turn their back to Him); because of ignoble explanations and ignominious teachings transmitted by reckless humans who serve no One nor nothing but their own agenda: personal ambitions and vanity.


Image: The last moments of Doge Marin Faliero by Francesco Hayez