With more than half the worlds population professing adherence to one or the other of the big two monotheistic religions, Christianity and Islam, and given the "bad press" both have received over the centuries, and still do, is it reasonable to suggest an alternative.

The alternative I had in mind predates both Christianity and Islam, it has at least 500 million devotees world wide and is practised in most countries, that alternative is Buddhism. I recently had the privilege to again visit a Buddhist Temple. I found the people there interesting, extremely understanding, very friendly and most accommodating, something I have never greatly experienced in the world of the monotheistic religions. Unlike the big two religions which seek to impose dogma from an unseen being, Buddhism sees the path to fulfilment through self enlightenment, which is a major difference to most other beliefs.

Be what you like. Believe what you wish. Faith or lack of it is a personal thing. Nobody has to try a "better way". Buddhism is not 'better’ because you can't compare oranges and apples. Buddhism doesn't have a deity.

Buddhism believes on refraining from:

harming living things
taking what is not given
sexual misconduct
lying or gossip
taking intoxicating substances eg drugs or drink.

And that's about it. I think a certain Green person would have trouble with the last one.

Paul,

Like the peaceful Buddhists in Myanmar that have peacefully ethnically cleansed the Rohingya Muslims burning their villages and killing women and children?

Dear Paul,

Religion is a universal social institution. It takes
a multitude of forms. Believers may worship gods,
ancestors, or totems, they may practice solitary meditation, frenzied
rituals, or solemn prayer. Many religions don't recognise
a supreme being, and a number don't believe in gods at all.
Several religions ignore questions about the origins of the
universe and life, leaving these problems to be dealt with
instead by nonreligious myth. Obviously, religion can't be
defined in terms of the Western religious tradition alone.

Religion is a personal matter - and what we choose to believe
(or not) is up to us. There are a large number of religions,
many of whose members are convinced that theirs is the one
true-faith and that all others are misguided, superstitious,
even wicked. When people mention religion - they usually
have their own in mind.

I'm glad that you've developed an interest in Buddhism.
May it bring you the inner peace that we all, in one way
or another are seeking.

Paul yes well we need to talk about such things some need to snear at you
Christianity needs a rethink Islam needs a rewrite
We all need to rethink why a God made us all but let thousands of others Gods exist in the mind of man
And why each God or the followers, find reason to hate followers of another God

When one really looks at it all very closely, it is rather amazing how similar religious indoctrination is to Left indoctrination.