Keep in mind that religion has little to do with morals--often nothing to do with it.

Religions have always been the tools of kings and emperors. Only the religion he approves of is allowed in his kingdom or empire. So it is a good cleansing tool whether it be ethnic or racial or religious or just a fat land grab.

The purpose of religion, if you bother to study it, has always been to apotheosize the king. He's the son of heaven, he is god's child on earth, he is crowned by god Himself. To doubt his is to condemn yourself to hell. Royals invented religion to control the masses with.

Defending something so slimey is funny on one hand and sad on the other. If a religion ever existed that taught you how to free yourself from the oppression of your ruler and to be your own king, you can bet that religion didn't last longer than it took the sovereign to send in his soldiers to kill and torture those who dared to practice it without his approval or consent.