PSA: There are arguments to be made that certain belief systems mimmic aspects of religion, but folks often just lazily conflate *zealotry* w/religion.

Arguing a belief system resembles religion bc it's inflexible/extreme assumes that's how religions always work—which is false.

Religion is not inherently inflexible, authoritarian, zealous, or violent.

It sure as heck CAN be (and absolutely has been) all those things, but such elements are by no means defining characteristics of religion, nor are they exclusive to it.

Conversely, religious groups that do not exhibit such traits are not, by any means, less "religious."

Ironically, suggesting otherwise is arguably a kind of theological argument: it suggests religion only operates one way, and those who deviate are…liars, I guess?

*Caveats: religion itself is a disputed category even among scholars of religion, with no universally agreed-upon definition. Also its meaning is also often deeply influenced by whatever religion a scholar/writer/thinker/person encounters most often, etc.