the problem with religion

Everyone who knows me also knows I am a strong atheist.I reject the notion of god or any gods, I reject the idea that higher powers or creature provide us with meaning and I reject the idea of any kind of after life.

And there lies the issue I have with religion in general. Most belief systems teach of an after life, one or more gods (higher beings)and rules to follow so that the after life can be secured as a 'positive' one. I do recognize that religion has provided the basis for modern society, for rules of living and the framework for a functioning society based on a set principles. I also realize that people crave and need religion as a means of creating hope and purpose. That is were the problem lies. For me the concept of religion symbolizes the arrogance, ignorance and narcissism of the human condition. We cannot, we will not accept that we, being so smart, highly developed and equipped with self-awareness and free will, have in fact no greater purpose to fulfill.
Too full of ourselves we are convinced that we are better than all other creatures with our 'souls'. We refuse to accept that our time is limited and our existence merely temporary and without purpose. So the human being creates purpose, creates meaning by establishing gods, after life and the conviction that our essence simply has to continue existing after we have passed because we are too good, too special and too meaningful to simply disappear.

It is pathetic really, a desperate attempt of an arrogant and self-involved creature to 'talk' themselves up, make themselves important and feed their superiority complex.
because what are we if not superior to all other beings on this earth right?
Wrong! Not only is religion a lie we tell ourselves and our children to ease the pain that the knowledge of a short and overall meaningless life span brings. It is also one of the main reasons and triggers for most of the major and most violent wars in history. An excuse to slaughter each other in the name of religion and varying beliefs. It separates us, it feeds us lies and nourishes our arrogance, racism and cockiness. Maybe it is time we get off our high horses and accept that our existence is not predestined but simply the result of biological development and evolution. Maybe it is time that we accept that everything has an end and that includes ours, irrevocably.