the year that was - violence and bigotry

I just watched the final of 60 minutes, including a montage of clips from the past year. So much antagonism between cultures and beliefs.

I can understand from an anthropological and historical point-of-view that we punish those who don't conform. They damage our community and values. In a time of pure survival this would have been dangerous.. today, our natures are all wrong. So damaging it makes me question the positives of belief, yet I believe religion will ultimately be better than the atheist view - people need something higher. In fact, we deserve it :)

There is no need for cultures to clash in the western world, yet it exists.

However, in resource poor areas (Africa and the mid-east) I can only see this becoming worse.

Why isn't there a religious edict about tolerance of other beliefs??! (And why do I watch TV?)