I need to read the Bible thoughtfully ,intelligently and prayerfully to try and understand what it is saying to me. This is what my Christian friends do. Sadly that is not what many do - would that it were.
However thoughtfully religious texts are read, it is still true that people cherry pick what suits their intentions - as I said above, these can either be good or bad.
Reading texts literally gave us the crusades, Islamic fundamentalism, Catholic cruelty ........... and so it goes on ..... and on. It is indeed dangerous - very dangerous.
Why not just strive to be kind to those around us? Does this really need a religious text, written by people generations ago?
And I also struggle with the idea of a god who wants to be worshipped all the time, but apparently, according to the teachings, regards humility as a virtue - what the heck is that about?
I do not know how or why the world was created - I do not know what we are here for - I do not know what the world is meant to be or how we should live. But I do not seek answers in ancient texts borne out of previous primitive cultures. I just look around me and think that the world would be a splendid place if we were just kind to one another. That is my religion. It is not always easy, but is worthwhile I feel.
We have to look at the world around us objectively. It is not all beautiful and wonderful and praiseworthy - it is cruel and predicated on kill or be killed, on survival of the fittest .... within every uplifting scene before us there are creatures scared for their lives and being destroyed. It truly is a cruel world - I do not feel a desire to thank any being for this. Would a loving god organise creation in this way?
What is playing out now in Ukraine is simply a reflection of the way the world has been created, of the way in which humans are made, of the instincts born into us.
We can only strive to be kind and to counter this as best we may.