Writing this again: that the nature of religion depends more on the men who 'control' it at that particular time rather than what the scriptures actually say or words of its revered holy men.
Like modern-day Hinduism is defined by current political discourse.

So, every current thing or new normal becomes an ingrained part of our faith, practiced from centuries.
Post-Harsavardhana, violent tantras were composed, the siddhas performed severe austerities not for liberation but for power, wealth. Inscriptions full of gory details.

The Buddhist monks in direct contrast to Tathagata's teachings were performing animal sacrifices for the king, composing mantras aimed at annihiIating enemies.
The reason was to cater to their patrons, the kings and lords who were always at war in the fragmented political scene.

They balanced the pacifist teachings with the duties of their royal patrons by formulating ideas like kiIIing a sinful person was actually an act of compassion.
Some pagans in the West argue that the decadence of the western society is due to the innate "weak" nature of Xianity.

How can people who worship a helpless crucified man fight, very well forgetting that these very corpse-worshippers annihiIated the original pagan faith. These very men stormed the mysterious Orient to liberate what they considered as the Holy Land.