For good people to do bad things...

[downbeatplumb]

My point is that it's surely bad people who would do this and not good. Unless I misunderstood the comment above.

I think it's possible that you did. The minor addition of emphasis might make Padraic's point more clear: "Good people use religion to RATIONALIZE the most appalling acts. Without religion, they would find other excuses—such as 'the national interest'," which refers to the implied horrors of anti-religious regimes.

For example, Christian fundamentalists who bomb abortion clinics use religion to RATIONALIZE their appalling acts, while in reality their professed religion (i) not only does not condone such acts (ii) but in fact condemns it. Such people, if they did not have religious language by which to rationalize their acts, would use the language of the next most convenient thing. Since their behavior is brought to their chosen narrative, and not derived from it, what narrative they use is mostly irrelevant.

I dont think thats true, they bomb the abortion clinics BECAUSE of their beliefs. Without the belief there would be no bombing.

You are trying to put the horse behind the cart.