Right, that's the problem. We have a long way to go to de-normalize religion in our everyday lives. Portraying religious characters in a negative light in our fiction is just one way we can make progress.
Religion is a cancer upon civilization. What do we do with cancer? Cut it out or kill it.
So, in essence, in your view...no one is allowed to be Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, Wiccan, Pagan, Hindu, Judaism, or, well, any belief system. Because all religion in every form has committed the most vile, heinous, evil acts, and is never capable of even the most singular iota of good.
That is how that comes off to me.
This is literally intolerance in it's purest form. So many of my Pagan friends would be shaking their heads at this, much less the woman who pretty much saved my life when I was near Death's door. And she is a Wiccan High Priestess.
But hey, intolerance in the name of purge all beliefs that don't align with mine is a good thing, right? /sarcasm
It is things like this that are the very crux of WHY I stay out of so many threads in this forum, religious ones especially. Because it's a dogpile festival where gazes are turned aside because the majority feel a certain way and agree in general with the more heavily weighed on view. Intolerance towards so many things is basically verboten. But when it comes to Religion in general, the unfortunate side of this forum just comes out en masse. It's mind boggling, and it's unfortunate.
I really, really, truly and deeply wish folks would discuss these things more civilly, towards a method of understanding and genuine discussion and debate. Not a room filled with so much anger, and hatred, and intolerant views that are set in stone and refuse to budge.
All religions have done evil things. All religions have done good things. And all religions have in one form or another, been persecuted.
That is, guess what....pretty much of all humanity in a nutshell. One reason or another, they all find reasons to do both good, and absolutely vile things. It's just whatever excuse/reason they choose to paint that decision in the light of, when they are not being genuine. It's convenient for them, and has nothing to do with their beliefs, but rather the perpetrated lie.
I really long for the day when all human beings can just come together and live side by side, peacefully, and in harmony. But I know deep down that is just a pipe dream and that fact is utterly depressing to me.