WHY there are so many different religions and spiritual viewpoints and WHO is behind them all?

Inform yourselves !!!

This is a part of a dialog between Sri Uddhava and Sri Krishna from Srimad Bhagavatam, 11th canto, 14th chapter. Uddhava was inquiring Krishna why there are so many different religions and religious practices, so many different spiritual viewpoints, and Krishna explained to him it is because of so many different spiritual tastes according to one's "spiritual age". 

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SB 11.14.1: "Śrī Uddhava said: My dear Kṛṣṇa, the learned sages who explain Vedic literature recommend various processes for perfecting one's life. Considering these varieties of viewpoint, my Lord, please tell me whether all these processes are equally important, or whether one of them is supreme.

SB 11.14.2: My dear Lord, You have clearly explained the process of unalloyed devotional service, by which a devotee removes all material association from his life, enabling him to fix his mind on You.

SB 11.14.3: "The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: By the influence of time, the transcendental sound of Vedic knowledge was lost at the time of annihilation. Therefore, when the subsequent creation took place, I spoke the Vedic knowledge to Brahmā because I Myself am the religious principles enunciated in the Vedas.

SB 11.14.4: Lord Brahmā spoke this Vedic knowledge to his eldest son, Manu, and the seven great sages headed by Bhṛgu Muni then accepted the same knowledge from Manu.

SB 11.14.5-7: From the forefathers headed by Bhṛgu Muni and other sons of Brahmā appeared many children and descendants, who assumed different forms as demigods, demons, human beings, Guhyakas, Siddhas, Gandharvas, Vidyādharas, Cāraṇas, Kindevas, Kinnaras, Nāgas, Kimpuruṣas, and so on. All of the many universal species, along with their respective leaders, appeared with different natures and desires generated from the three modes of material nature. Therefore, because of the different characteristics of the living entities within the universe, there are a great many Vedic rituals, mantras and rewards.

SB 11.14.8: Thus, due to the great variety of desires and natures among human beings, there are many different theistic philosophies of life, which are handed down through tradition, custom and disciplic succession. There are other teachers who directly support atheistic viewpoints.

SB 11.14.9: O best among men, the intelligence of human beings is bewildered by My illusory potency, and thus, according to their own activities and whims, they speak in innumerable ways about what is actually good for people.

SB 11.14.10: Some say that people will be happy by performing pious religious activities. Others say that happiness is attained through fame, sense gratification, truthfulness, self-control, peace, self-interest, political influence, opulence, renunciation, consumption, sacrifice, penance, charity, vows, regulated duties or strict disciplinary regulation. Each process has its proponents.

SB 11.14.11: All the persons I have just mentioned obtain temporary fruits from their material work. Indeed, the meager and miserable situations they achieve bring future unhappiness and are based on ignorance. Even while enjoying the fruits of their work, such persons are filled with lamentation.

SB 11.14.12: O learned Uddhava, those who fix their consciousness on Me, giving up all material desires, share with Me a happiness that cannot possibly be experienced by those engaged in sense gratification.

SB 11.14.13: One who does not desire anything within this world, who has achieved peace by controlling his senses, whose consciousness is equal in all conditions and whose mind is completely satisfied in Me finds only happiness wherever he goes.

SB 11.14.14: One who has fixed his consciousness on Me desires neither the position or abode of Lord Brahmā or Lord Indra, nor an empire on the earth, nor sovereignty in the lower planetary systems, nor the eightfold perfection of yoga, nor liberation from birth and death. Such a person desires Me alone..."

Read the entire Chapter 14: Lord Kṛṣṇa Explains the Yoga System to Śrī Uddhava at:

http://vedabase.net/sb/11/14/en

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Therefore, let it be known that religious principles are given by God himself, due to so many diversities among living beings, so many species, because He has respect for all those different natures and desires of everyone!

Religious principles are not created by some Reptilian minions who want to enslave everybody in order to steal their life energy. Now if you find yourself entangled in such energy stealing, ask yourself how did you get yourself into it, without blaming others. I am not saying that religions today are right, but that their leaders abused their positions and original religious principles, so they are wondering around like geese in the fog: blind lead the blind. They both fall. Real religion is established by God personally and is eternal. You can do NOTHING about it, just like you can do nothing against 'law of karma' and 'law of attraction', nor any other perfect law of the universe, put in action so nicely by the Author of all of them, the originator of all, the Truth Personified. None of them is 'accidentally perfectly self-made'. You cannot destroy eternal religious principles nor fight them, you may only hurt yourself, unnecessarily. Do you really think these laws which keep all things in order will simply dissapear if you say so?