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To my understanding . . whilst there are positive aspects of peoples finding unity in a faith (of advantage especially where these peoples are suffering or persecuted) . . . . . . I think the 'problem' with following one religion to the exclusion of others is that one has to follow the specific 'rules' of that religion . . . (and EVERY religion has specific and unique little rules . . almost as a means of defining and uniquely identifying the religion) . . . . and so in following these (almost arbitrary) rules an artifical set of restraints is applied to ones way of life and way of thinking. Inevitably this leads to the religious follower developng a sense that to follow these rules is 'good', and to not follow them is 'less good' (I wont say bad) . . . . . . . The religious follower will naturally develop 'respect' for others who follow the same rules, and hence less respect for others who dont.
Its just the price that has to be paid . . the question is whether the positive aspects of being religious are outweighed by the negative ones? For example, I beleive Muslims are told that wine is good for your health in principal . . . but the associated negatives aspects associated with drinking it outweigh that good . . hence it is 'forbidden'.
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Where your talents and the needs of the world cross . . there lies your vocation.
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