Religion is not the Problem: But is it the Answer...?

[JoeyT]

23. No it isn't and no it's not, respectively.

I don't think there's a specific single thing that can be nailed down as THE problem.

In my experience good people are going to be decent (for the most part) and bad people are going to be jerks (in general) whether they're religious or not, barring some massive life changing shift at the start of it. (Joining a hate cult or using religion to lean on while working on a substance abuse issue.) At best religion tends to reinforce the things they already value, or have decided they value independently of their religion. For example, Conservatives generally don't appreciate being reminded of about 90% of what Jesus said, while remaining convinced they're the only true Christians.

As far as it building communities goes, often that only works if the community is heterogeneous. If it isn't, frequently at best they'll compete and at worst they'll be actively antagonistic toward one another. With exceptions, of course.