Humans and religion go hand in hand; it's endemic to specific levels of consciousness. It's not bad or good, it's the way it always has been and, probably, the way it always will be as long as the those levels of consciousness are present.
Generally, humans possess a need for affirmation and inclusion - to belong - in order to establish identity, affirm their beliefs, and combat the universal proclivity to loneliness. There are as many "clubs" as variable ideas humans can conceive and two or more agree upon, allowing all humans to "belong", whether to childhood clubhouse, genetic heritage, national cause, or global religion...it's nearly endless in variety of manifestation and ubiquitous in participation.
Perhaps, in the end, the most salient determinant of an individual's choice in adherence to a group of political/religious nature (I find the two very similar) is their notions of Right and Wrong. It is here, I believe, the Christian finds (his- or) herself on shaky ground.
Through study of many of the world religions (with a major exertion in Christianity), I've come to believe the meat of the message in the world's religious texts are allegorical and/or metaphorical. There is little, to no, other way to convey ideas irrational to the rational mind. All of the great teachers of mysticism and spirituality have taught, almost exclusively, in this fashion; including the famous guy from Nazareth: Jesus.
As someone here has already pointed out, it is the literal understanding, only, of "religious" texts that perpetuates misunderstanding and allows for the wielding of words as weaponry when their intent was to disarm. In my view, there is universal misunderstanding (weaponry) forged by rational interpretation of ideas and terms such as "sin", "Satan" (the Deceiver), "Christ", "through Christ", to "abide in Christ” ...it’s a long list. But, I witness most of Christendom behave through, what I deem, this false understanding of their guide.
I see religion (and political affiliation) as part and parcel of the prevailing human condition, but, like that guy from Nazareth, I am not in favor of it.
