Do you feel Religion dictates peoples lives too much?

You do raise some valid points, and, human history undeniably contains evidence.supporting the view. In my experience, though, and I'm sure I'm not alone, I too was under the impression "God this and that and live and die for Him". Eventually, like many fellow believers I would venture to say, realized "God this and that" is what some authoritative individuals speaking in God's name claim He wants for the rest of us. This is the drawback of having authority figures interpret Scriptures for us - for, on one hand we need such authorities on the subject since they are better versed in ancient civilizations than most of us who might arrive at wrong conclusions reading the Bible through modern perspective and cultural conventions, while on the other hand, these very same authorities who are supposed to preserve the tradition and meaning of ancient texts, being imperfect, sometimes overstep their role of guiding to demanding, where such demands involve their, not God's, interests.

We are in a way fortunate we live in an information age, less proverbial wool can be pulled over our eyes now than in the past, and, the Bible authorities are reverting to their original calling to merely guide instead of dictate. Still, this is our troubled Christian heritage, and yet, we are improving I believe. Fewer and fewer authorities are interjecting their personal interests into interpretations of ancient texts, rather, explain the context and hopefully we with our intellect draw the conclusions as they were originaly written down in ancient times, but conclusions relevant for our modern age.

Not only does it dictate their lives, the really retarded part is that it makes them want to dictate over other people's lives.

Religion flys people into buildings but Jesus sets you free.

You have Free Will, follow Christ or don't Your decision.

As for me I want my eternity to be nonsmoking.

Yes, of course it does. Religion was invented in order to have control over people.

Religion is the regulation of man's actions towards God and man set by God not man.

Yes, that is one of my grudges against religions, they are too controlling and interfering with our everyday lives.

You don't have to be influenced if you don't want to. It's a choice we make.

We need morals and laws or we become like animals and are no better than them

"The Path of the Higher Self" and "Man, Master of His Destiny" offer some insight.

God [Sex/drugs/money/good times] this, god[ Sex/drugs/money/good times ] that, Live for god [Sex/drugs/money/good times], die for god [Sex/drugs/money/good times], good or bad it doesn't matter he/she/it is god[Sex/drugs/money/success] you must obey! or suffer alone in your "sin" If you don't obey god [ Sex/drugs/money/fame] your life isn't worth living.. etc etc etc

God [Sex/drugs/money] is reason God [Sex/drugs/money/power] is just God[ Sex/drugs/money/whatever] is Life

Sex/drugs/money is a lie? Is an Illusion?

People so willingly follow something-- for what? Fear of missing out on something? because someone tells them so?

What is "God" to you?