So, just what are we talking about?

[kandrathe]

As Pete wrote above; The methods of science and belief in a religion are not inconsistent . Each of us has contructed a view of our universe based on our learning and assumptions. I would say of your first 5 points; science can only make conclusions using observable, measurable, reality. The nature of a supreme being as defined in Christianity moves in the the realm of the metaphysical and supernatural. Humans are bound to a 3 dimensional space, and have 5 senses which allow us to observe our reality. We anthropomorphize God, if we expect that God is bound to the same limitations.

When I look through the history books, I see the most atrocious deeds done in the name of religion, or at least justified by it.

But also, correlation does not indicate causality. "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely". When I look in the history books I see that most often when coalitions of humans wield power, they use it against their opposition minority. This was also true in ancient Chinese, and Indian histories that predate western histories by thousands of years. Sometimes the coalition is based on a common religion, but more often it is based on racial, geographic, or secular rule. So, I think that persecution occurs in the enforcement of morality, or the enforcement of a philosophy, or the enforcement of unjust laws. The common ground is the enforcement of "The Majority" beliefs upon the minority individual.

In early European history often the rulers comingled government and religion in mutual enforcement of law and morality. This was the oppression that forced many to flee to the new world, and when the constitution of the US was crafted, guarantees for all religious freedoms were added.