Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God

Say, hypothetically, I was a Puritan teen in the 1700's, sitting in church.
Say, hypothetically, I was listening to Jonathan Edwards preach about how God is hanging each and every one of us by a very, very thin thread that will break the moment we step out of line, and send us falling to the deepest pits of hell.

Say, hypothetically, that I'm religious.
I'm not.
However, if I really was in that situation listening to preachings every Sunday like that of Jonathan Edwards, I'm sure I would be extremely religious, realistically speaking. (Who in their right mind would doubt something so scary???) But today, with the freedom of thought, I know I wouldn't be able to live in that environment for two reasons: I grew up knowing God as the all-forgiving one, not the so-pure-that-He-can't-stand-looking-at-you God, and I like thinking my own way and having my own opinions.

I was the Christian in my Buddhist family once upon a time, probably due to the influences of my friends. I loved and believed in God and how He would protect my and guide my through my life, and I worked my best to be a good person, and hoped to someday end up in heaven. But somehow, I just stopped. I suppose I just gave up on God, and decided that I don't know what really happens when I die, and I will always know of only one life, so why have a set of beliefs limit my life experiences? It wasn't like my life was that much better when I prayed and worshipped. I still believe in being a good-hearted person, but I do what I want, and just go with my own moral principals, not the ones set by Christianity.

This just brought up a question that I always wonder about. It's not really about this, but it's on the topic of religion so I'll mention it anyway: Why do people hate each other for having different religious beliefs? For one thing, a lot of people believe in the same God, even if it is different views of him and different practices. Also, what does someone's beliefs have to do with you at all? It's not like it will harm you or their afterlife will effect you. I feel that ironically, religion is the ultimate things that bonds us together and tears us apart. It shouldn't be though.