A parable
There was a world of robots, all of which carried on mechanically with their eyes downcast. They did little more than eat and sleep, but this made them happy, for the happiness of robots is in fulfilling their programming. And all was harmonious
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(1) We act essentially robotic a lot of the time, even in areas where we like to think we're very spontaneous.
(2) Religious devotion, or really devotion to any higher cause, is a matter of reprogramming the robot out of its lower habits and into habits that serve the higher ideal. By necessity, this is a conscious reprogramming for the most part - one becomes aware of what habits are inhibiting the full expression of one's cause, and one learns to make appropriate adjustments.
(3) Spreading particular religions to the exclusion of others is a bad idea because it detracts from the self-evident nature of religion. When I say religion is self-evident, I mean that devotion to a higher cause naturally occurs once one reaches a certain stage of self-development; but this requires developing a certain awareness ("looking up"), both internal and external. Therefore the best we can do for people is to encourage them to develop this awareness and then let them decide for themselves what is the best course of action.
(4) All (or most) disharmony in civilization - particularly conflict between humans - is essentially caused by those who have developed this awareness and reprogrammed their robot-selves accordingly, and those who have not done so. Conflict in the self is caused by incomplete reprogramming. Both the meanest animals and the greatest gods are in a sort of harmony with themselves and with each other, but humanity - because it is somewhere in between - is in disharmony.
Some of this may not be very clear - that's why I went for allegory in the first place.
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