You are right, religions are not God given truths, but simply different people's interpretation of what they "heard". The Hindu religion is lucky in that there is not a single holy text (the Bhagvad Gita may be considered one of many), and many philosophers like Sankara and ramanuja had very diffferent ideas. We did not live in previous times when one might have witnessed big battles between Saivites, Vaishnavites, human sacrificers, Buddhists, and others (read Ponniyin Selvan by kalki Krishnamurthy to get a taste of what it may have been like). However, somehow, ratiolality, and scinentific thinking prevailed, and the religion is still undrgoing an evolution (like the elimination of caste, dowry, female infanticide,etc.) Buddihsm preaches non viloence as a central priciple, and the Buddha lived a life which illustrated by example. This has been amplified by the present Dalai lama. Yet, in Sri Lanka, Buddists have conducted a violent campaign against the Tamils, who are predominantly Hindu (but the Tamils do not fight for Hinduism). Christianity has a history of serious violence against other Christians in the middle ages, and the Chrisitian fundamentalists are still capable of such behavior, they certainly believe that all those who do not believe in their brand of religion(i. e. Hindus) will go to hell. Even President Bush subscribes to this ideology. Unfortunately, Islam has not been blessed with reformers. The Sufis tried, as did Akbar. You are right that a new messiah
