World Religions reflective journal #10

Today I have learnt the term "fundamentalism". An abstract concept again, trying link religion and politics together. Very long time ago, I have heard the idea of "Church and State", illustrating the great influence of Christianity on the government ruling. 

Indeed, I really don't know why people love to link everything to "power". This recalls me to Marx and Freud's perspective to religion. To some extent, religion may serve as a social agent to maintain harmonious society, but I don't understand how can the reductionists assert that religion is simply instrumental, or as an escapism (maybe this is the insider-outsider challenge)?

I feel very sorry that religions are always exploited as a tool to achieve something and I am also disgusted of the inhuman deeds of the so-called religious people (the Crusades and the 911 incident). What they have done are totally against the fundamental virtues promoted by the good-natured religions. Like the story I have mentioned in the previous journal about the soap producer.

If the purpose of religions can also be "reduced" as simplest as possible, i.e. to make human live a better life, but not adding extra meaning on it, I am quite sure that the world can be more pacific...