I can see in the photos -their countenance and internal "light" and lack of light, warmth and love, who I would want to be in the presence of or believe is genuine and loving.
I have read a Christian author's (who writes and speaks about emotionally destructive marriage)- community (group) forum. It is mostly Christian women. There are many "pastor's" wives that are trying to survive and escape abuse and horrible violence from their church leader husbands.
Regarding religious people: I believe that it is merely that some people who are genuine, warm and kind, also happen to be Christian/religious. The idea of Christianity will never again mean what I once believed it should. I now see it as you have drawn out in this piece- tyrannical, authoritarian and destructive. I struggle to understand why people still try to be in it rather than getting out of it.