MD makes a good point. Although people now have the freedom to choose their religion. In the past people were forced to believe in certain ones and worship certain Gods, for fear of death. It is highly suspicious that the ruling bodies felt it so important that they had to kill in order to make people toe the line, the very thing most religions preach against.
It adds argument to the fact that the rules that embody religious texts are very cleverly implemented ways to control the masses.