Remember when Obama was running for president and being portrayed as an elitist, many times by devout Christians. I find that ironic. How can a religion that tells its believers (This goes for most religions) that anyone that does not believe exactly as they believe are basically non worthy beings. Is that not elitist? Religion encourages portray of some people as non worthy. Just look into history for the numerous examples of various faiths slaughtering anyone that did not believe as they did and was no big deal to the slaughterer.
Look at early Catholic's, they thought nothing about putting another human being on a stake above a fire so they could be slowly and painfully roasted. Why? These people were going to hell anyways- so what was the big deal? (In the category of details you probably do not care to know about comes this- according to diaries from 15th century English people who attended burnings at the stake- blood gushes out of the ends of your fingers during the process.)(I will say Catholic's have come a long way from this.)
The entire concept of an "eternal hell" is just hard for me to believe. If god were so wonderful- why would he go out of his way to torture good people who just happen not to believe? Why raise you from the dead and send you to a place for eternal torture? Why not just let you die and stay dead? This does not sound rational or like something a good loving god would do to other humans.
Look at Muslims that blow themselves up and kill other innocent people- even babies- for God's sake! How can they do this? They have convinced themselves they are going to heaven as a hero. What else explains why endless number of people have done this? Why no out cry? (This is a subject by itself for another day.)
I understand the great majority of all religious people are fair, honorable, and do the right thing. It's unfortunate that the elitist part of their faith cause fringe elements to do terrible things to other people in the name of their god.
It's too bad it can't be - live and let live. Do onto others as you would want them to do onto you- that is all the religion I need!