Is Religions Role as a Gude? Or a gatekeeper?

There is no other type of human organization that has done as much good for humanity, nor caused so much grief for humanity, as religion.  Over the scope of history probably billions of people have organized successful, productive, and happy lives around religious principles.  Whether they be Jews, Christian's, Muslims, Buddhist's, Hindu's, or many other religious beliefs, all seem to have the capacity to provide organizing principles to help people enjoy a healthy and productive life.

At the same time religion is one of the two primary justifications for war, genocide and other forms of human discrimination and aggression against others.  (The other justification is just pure naked greed and hunger for personal power).

How can religion be simultaneously so beneficial yet so destructive?  I believe it is because religious folk are not careful about the roles they allow religion to assume in the name of religion.

Religion/s strength is as a guide helping people chose paths in life that lead to health, peace and contentment.  In this role religion suggests options that people can chose to follow - or not.  A Religion becomes popular because it works for people in organizing their lives. 

Religions begin to undermine their ability to be a good guide when ambitious people appoint or sell themselves as the gatekeeper for the religion.  They claim the power to control access to God to enhance their own influence and power.  Since they are human they do not have the capability of absolute understanding, but their ambition tends to make them ignore or forget that fact.  What seems right to them, based on their personality and life experience, becomes the only path authorized by God.  

Religions really go wrong is when the gatekeepers begin to align themselves with government to control not only access to god, but to enforce what they perceive to be god's law.

A goal of all people who respect religion should be limit religions roll to that of a guide - to recognize that different paths to God work for different people.  All people who respect religion should reject those who would set themselves up as gatekeepers controlling access to God.