There are other social institutions, such as education, which can teach us a balanced approach to living with others in a relatively free society.
Where education differs from religion though, is that for the most part, it is not propagandized to further a leader's power or control over others. It is about a quest for objective knowledge and understanding. There are still occasional problems with people using, for example, junk science to dictate government policy, as no institution is perfect.
The alternative though - religious leaders preaching intolerance and death to those of differing culture, sexual orientation or political viewpoints, is far worse.
Indeed, but changes do not happen over night nor do people forget in one night. Look at the saudi video for example. I think they where doing a good job changing a very religious country, a under developed country to a modern country in a very short time span. Unfortunately, they left the feeding ground open for people with hostile fundamental idea's. That is what they did wrong.
However, as another example a large part of the US is pretty deep in some fundamental christianity. That is something to worry about too. I don't want a person like John Hagee preaching the usa should go to war with the entire middle east to protect Israel. And i have seen some video's where he actually did that. For the world to come to peace, the entire western world including russia needs to work together to solve the israel / palestina question.
It is the same as we in the west helping in Afghanistan. Slowly changing the people. But it would be a lot easier if all the democratic(no not the US party but generally speaking) countries in the world would help. If one would help people and show them ones way is better, that is get an education and as you have said yourself
😀 and learn to think before acting, people become moderate believers themselves automatically. The fast solution is to kill them all. But then we would be just as savage as any other uneducated savage of a human. Feeding hate to the survivors and sympathizers. The true solution is showing education is the right way. Let them come themselves. If you force humans, they will only fight you harder until they are dead. Let them see your way and they will grow on their own. This can clearly be seen in Afghanistan. Now everybody is leaving, the people are left alone with very dangerous people who want their base of power back. And we are not there to prevent them. Kind of obvious what will happen. The situation turns as before the invasion of Afghanistan and the people have no more trust in the west. To many countries do not like the west because of lost good will. Looking at the west with suspicion, which is not that strange. A great example is europe where more and more countries are wanting to or are already pulling out of Afghanistan.. If europe and the russians and the usa work together it is easier to drive out bad influence. Then people with moderate religious believes can rebuild their country. The will is there, we just need to provide the knowledge.
Unfortunately their are to much political interests clashing.
Unfortunately, companies like halliburton want to make a quick buck and would rather build everything themselves for too high prices. Leaving the people in the dark. Long time investment is what people should think about. And not that short term thinking we see so obvious in the western companies.
EDIT : If someone has worked hard to build something up, that person is less likely to let it be blown up.
