Religion what is it good for?

I know this question was posed regarding War, by War, but I pose this question to myself because lately I have many unanswered questions.  I am not a fan of organized religion, but I believe and I have faith in a higher power and I suppose it is this faith and belief that make me question the validity of organized religions.

I base my dismay on two fundemental beliefs that all religions are based on.  Number one, there is a higher power and number two, we are created in the image of our higher.  If we all believe this, why is there so many discrepancies?  Why do we argue about this, and why do we kill each other over it?

These two ideals should unite us, not seperate us.  We are here because we are suppposed to be here.  Everyone of us is here because, we are.  No one is here because they are better than anyone else, we are all created equally.  If you show me someone who did not come into this world differently than by putting sperm to egg then I will be impressed.  No matter how you slice it, dice it you need these two elements regardless if they come together in a tube, petrie dish or the good old fashion way it is a life and it is supposed to be born. BTW, I am not a right to lifer either, humans have a choice and whatever choice you make, no one has the right to tell you they are wrong.

Catholics are not better than Protestants, Muslims are not better than Christians and Fundementalist are not the chosen ones.   They just are not.  We are all just people, created in the image of our creator and if we believe that then it only follows that we need to live up to those ideals.  Everyone knows the difference between right and wrong.  We are basically good if we share, love and respect each other.  We are evil if we kill, steal or otherwise harm one another.  We all agree on that, so where does this crazy blurring occur when do we agree to kill for "God" or declare "Holy Wars".   Holy and War should not even be in the same room together, much less sanction death, harm and exclusion of any other humans.
These are the contradictions that keep me up at night and make me question our "humanity."  When I see this I can not believe that any other rational human can believe any of this rubbish.  To use it against one another is totally crazy.  So to answer my own question, What is it good for?  Absolutely nothing.

I can not get behind any organized belief system that is selective, exclusionary and hateful of others.  I can not believe in any group that says it is ok to hate certain people and turn one group against another.  I can not get behind preaching one groups virtues while ignoring everyone elses.  I just can not and if this guarantees me a spot in hell, I hope that my fellow hellians are equally funny, happy, loving folk like me.  That we respect everyone and celebrate our differences because if that is what being a hell raiser is all about, then I know I have a front row seat.

This is what I was thinking about while stuck in a meeting for work, don't send me to meetings anymore my mind tends to wander.