"The apostles were quarreling among themselves before the crucifixion. And it continued afterward, as detailed in the Acts of the Apostles. But that was minor stuff compared to what followed."

Absolutely, Don. You are so right about that. And so what?

I am very impressed by the general teachings of the man Jesus. I am far less impressed by the bickering collection of fellows who followed him around, jockeyed for power against one another, then ran out on him when he was arrested, then changed their minds and launched a new religion in his name afterward.

I see them as a mixed lot. I do not regard their words as unimpeachable. I do not regard the Bible as the one and only illuminating source on the matter (Good God! Far from it...).

That does not prevent me from seeing that people who attack "religion" as though it were one monolithic, awful thing are as foolish and deeply prejudiced in their thinking as the religious fundamentalists whom they despise. In fact, they're just like them...only wearing the uniform of the opposing team, that's all.

It's intolerance, unfounded contempt, lack of any willingness to investigate new ideas, and dogmatic inflexibility on both sides of that great divide that obfuscates useful dialogue about "religion" or spirituality with most people. Most people are rigidly partisan when it comes to "religion". Their depth of prejudice is unfathomable.

As Dianavan pointed out, spirituality has far more to do with individual belief and philosophy than it does to do with any church or tradition or holy book. Spirituality can usually find much worth in all religious traditions, not just the one a person happened to be born into.