I personally have always been suspicious of religions that impose rules and regulations, and which carry threats of terrible punishments if you don’t follow the rules. That is because the priests are people, the same as you and me, and to suggest they have direct contact with their “God”, and can relay God’s message, is, in my view, ridiculous. I do believe that religion can, in the wrong hands, just be a tool for people to use to attain power and wealth.