You were the victim of the most successful con of all time, including myself and many atheists in here. Humanity is relatively good, it was the con men who took people’s desires to be good and perverted into a power grab.
The Catholics dominated European religion, and just like politics, the people who climbed to the top in power used that platform to amass wealth and power. And sadly, one aspect of power is that it corrupts.
Religion does not own a simple concept, “treat others as you wish to be treated”. That’s all there is to it.
@Fleeing_in_Terror You are a good person, and I am sure so are those close to you. You just held a moral line, and when you realized your church crossed it, did the right thing and turned your back on it. And you are like most of us, humanity, that we simply desire to live happy lives and not abuse our loved ones, neighbors, and community.
Humanity is still doing well, it is just lost in the media’s penchant for showing horror rather than good stories.