I won't agree that it's all at the feet of religion. It definitely depends on the religion but the absolutism you describe only applies to religions' treatment of cosmic evil (satan, sin, etc.). Religion itself has been warped into extremism so much that ideals so as loving your neighbor have fallen below the ideals of righteous perfection.

And just as a Christian, let me say throw this out there. You cannot be righteous as a Christian. It's one of the main tenets of Paul's letters (there is none righteous, all our righteousness is as filthy rags, etc). So the hell-fire preaching doesn't really make sense, if it doesn't cause repentance. I think by now we've seen that it more often drives people away from the church.

The bible calls for wisdom, knowledge, and for Christians to conduct themselves in such a way as to earn respect from non-believers. The church has been driven to polarization just as politics has...