""It's self-evident that individual faith often arises from a yearning for belonging which, out of no little necessity, requires a willingness to conform on any number of levels, so the stereotyping is part and parcel of the religious experience.""


That is not at all "self-evident" at all to me, as you claim it to be.

I propose that the actual "religious experience" is personal, and should not be confused with social elements of belonging to an organized religion.

Stereotyping not only does a disservice to those who do not conform to your box (there are billions on the planet, whom you have never met), but also tends to limit the perspective of the person developing and imposing such a sterotype box.