Religious extremism is out of control

Recent news reports describing the antics of several groups of religious fundamentalists have piqued my curiosity. Priests fighting each other in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher over who will clean up what, while the church itself is falling down because the priests can’t decide who has the right to do what. Ultra-conservatives spitting on an 8-year-old while walking down a public sidewalk and demanding that women sit in the back of a public bus. All in the name of God. Who are these people? And how did they get to decide what God wants of us? Could it be they are just nuts? I find it very difficult to give up the ideas of love and forgiveness and compassion for “Submit or burn in hell forever” or “Do not think for yourself, only we know the true meaning of God’s word.” Looking back in time and considering the troubles caused by these folks (burning witches, the Crusades, 9/11), I think I’ve answered my question: They’re crazy.
Source http://www.timesargus.com/article/20120106/OPINION02/701069927