Religious "Tolerance"

Of all the things that people do that grate on my nerves, religious intolerance has to be one of them. I'm not just talking about the nonbelievers and Atheists, I'm also talking about the religious ones that seem to have a need to go on about how their beliefs are right and others are wrong. Why is it that Christians feel like they have a need to OFFEND people?

Not of God?
I was brought up in a Church differently from others. I was Christian, and still am, but there was always some Jewish influence. I didn't eat pork, I celebrated the "Jewish" Holy days, and I didn't celebrate Halloween or Christmas or other man-made holidays (except for patriotic ones such as Independence Day). I didn't know very many people with the same beliefs. The Church used to be much bigger, but now there are few who are still in it. I was never embarrassed or anything of my religion, nor did I really care who believed what. I always gave everyone else respect for their religious beliefs. I never would preach to anyone or tell them they were supposed to believe something else or anything like that. I only shared what I believed in if someone asked me to. But, when I did share, that was when the bashes came in. I was told I was in a cult, that because I don't eat pork I'm not of God, and many other insults.
Ironically, most of the harsh words weren't from nonbelievers or Atheists. They were from other Christians. In fact, the Atheists and nonbelievers were the ones who usually kept their opinions to themselves. I never gave an insult back. I was the one who had the highest grades in school, kept away from drugs, sex, and alcohol, and was respected the most by adults. Yet the ones swearing left and right, getting into fights, sleeping around, etc. were the religious ones saying that I was not "of God." Am I the only one who finds this to be hypocritical? I NEVER would have thought to insult ones beliefs like that. My beliefs are between ME and GOD alone. Your beliefs are between YOU and GOD alone. I have no problem with someone sharing their beliefs or saying, "I disagree because-" but I do have a problem with "Your religion is stupid" and "So you are in a cult, right?" I am NOT in a cult. It's really not that far from Christianity. It IS Christianity, just also with SOME Jewish influence. Nothing extreme. No sacrifices, no Satan worship, nothing that would be considered "sick" or "dangerous." So, to say that anyone is wrong because they don't eat pork or shell fish is absolutely preposterous. The Lord says, "Do not judge a man by the days he keeps or the food he eats." I never have done that. I NEVER thought less of anyone because they eat what I don't or celebrate what I don't. I never complained about it. What ever happened to the Golden Rule, "Treat others the way you want to be treated"? Would you want someone bashing you like that?

Who is Truly Correct?
There are so many different religions and sects out there. How do we know who is really correct? Fact is, we don't. There are so many different interpretations that saying any ONE set of beliefs is THE right one is a huge leap. There will always be arguments. Why should we listen to what a human being says in a sermon instead of what the Lord Himself says? Man is corrupt. This is Satan's world. There is a huge history of corruption in churches. Why continue to believe what any person tells us to believe in the church? Besides, EVERY religion equally believes that they are the right one. To leave a closed mind on what may or not be correct is foolish.

Atheists and Nonbelievers
Honestly, I don't blame Atheists for leaving the churches. We have so many rude and prejudiced Christians out there, it's sickening. So many of them or such hypocrites, it's pathetic. However, a common mistake of Atheists and nonbelievers is that they say that God is the corrupt one. DO NOT BLAME GOD. It is not the god that is corrupt. It is the followers. God does not teach us to behave in such a cold way. It is the people themselves that misinterpret the Bible. God teaches love and mercy. The followers twist that into what benefits themselves. Trust me, I KNOW what it is like to witness the lies and horrors in the Church. But, I do not blame God. I blame Satan and the people. Another thing; why is it that YOU are free to believe whatever, but I'm not? I knew people who believed more in magic and such. I said, "OK." That's it. Yet for some reason, they dare ask, "Why do you believe God? Why can't you believe in spirits like me? Stop being so closed-minded." Well, I ask you this; Why can't YOU believe in God like me? I don't care what you believe in. I don't care if you worship a donkey-gnome hybrid god. If anyone asks someone something like that, it can just go right back to the questioner.