It's inspiration.

Let's just say that they've created some of the most wonderful and 'powerful' stories ever told in one book written ages ago...hence the collection of the inspired people to, err, build a 'church' to collect the masses and read the stories again.

I did said 'read' to the stories. 'Practicing' what they 'read' is another different matter.

There's your religion that promotes violence and chaos.

"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach