[Serious] What does religion have to offer?

[Brian37]

This seems contradictory to me. Even "a la carte" beliefs stem from Biblical teachings or philosophy. Obviously they're all going to be close to the Christianity of the Bible.

The point about a la carte Christianity is that it is simply the individual's own morality substituted for Biblical morality. The further from "fundamentalist" a Christian faith is, the more one has to question why they bothered with the faith claim to begin with when in reality they are using their own morality (which is to be applauded) over the immoral preachings of the Bible. Theists like to say that any good moral beliefs have a basis in their faith, as if it impossible to be good for goodness sake.

I wouldn't limit "a la carte" to Christianity. It owns no patent on that.  Every religion, bar none, has sub sects under the same umbrella label that do not agree with the other interpretations of the other sects of that same religion.

Our species morality is not in a holy book, not in a holy person, not an an interpretation of old mythology. Most human beings are good, and perfectly capable of empathy and compassion. I simply disagree with EVERY religion as to where they think our species morality is coming from.

Conservatism or "fundamentalism"  exists in every religion, even Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist religions. It would be a mistake to think only Christians and Muslims have a far right conservative view.

The empathetic left, and fearful right exist in every religion. This has never changed worldwide in our species history. 

The problem with the left and right of EVERY RELIGION in the world, is that most people do not want to face it is all "a la carte". All religions depend on cherry picking, within the same umbrella between sub sects, not just fighting against other religions.

I'd argue to all of humanity, if one sect, or one religion constituted a perfect morality for all of humanity, then why is there more than one religion? Why is there more than one sect of the same religion? Why is it there is not one nation, friend or foe alike, that does not have hospitals or prisons? Maybe because our species morality isn't in a label, but in our genes, in our evolution.

If one has the capability to look at someone outside their label, and accept that that individual is capable of doing good and being good, then that should tell them that morality isn't in a label, but in our genes as individuals.