Why should religion have any influence on our lives?

[Mudhammam]

Certainly we'll all analyse things differently from our different perspectives. I think that's something that just has to be accepted, but also be aware of. The atheist is as biased as the Catholic, when it comes to looking at Hinduism. Or the Catholic is as biased as the atheist, if you prefer.

I think a sign of mature thinking is when we can recognise and acknowledge our own presuppositions. When I was younger I tended to think only other people had bias

Of course. When I was younger I tended to think all biases were equal.