[coleifer]

My own sense is that the religions of the world are mostly in agreement about the following things:

* renunciation of self

* acceptance of the world / reality, including suffering

* love of mankind

* love of the gift of life

Religion as an institution, however, is something different than the "message" contained within the sacred texts or traditions of religions (lower-case r).

Some religion attracts fanatics, those who believe "We are right and everyone else is wrong." Within that statement there is a marked absence of acceptance, love of mankind, love of life.

There is also spiritual pride, which is more subtle. In Christ's parable of the pharisee and the publican, we see the publican, who prays in all humility for God's mercy, and the pharisee, who thanks God that he is better than the publican. And many Christians reading that parable will think, "and thank God I'm not like the pharisee"!