Religion, parents, teachers, the system. Anyone using fear is wrong. How weak must be something that needs to fill someone's heart with fear in order to work?

What's the point of being a parent if you feel the need to intimidate the kids to get them to study? What's the point of a system that punishes the criminal without making any efforts to prevent that crime from happening in the first place? And of what use is a God that claims to be the most merciful yet tells us that we'll burn in hellfire if we don't sing His praises?

Jessica and Clay are right. Religion IS used to instill not only fear but to be cruel as well. Religion is used as an excuse to harass, shame or even murder someone.

No you're not the bad guy for being a believer, definitely not. But you are indeed a bad guy for not putting an end to practices that violates other people's rights.