Quazimofo said:
just a personal example. the point is religion is a moderating force on an otherwise brutish people. imagine how worse things would have been if all the really big people had no reason not to rape your wife, steal your food, and kill you for shits and giggles way back before society developed, in no small part around common religious views. it also provides content, feeling of security, and happiness in believers.
I'd like to know how society will progress when all that stops people from raping my significant other stealing my food and ending my life is the assorted stories that essentially has the same amount of credibility as your average fairy tales. Also, you think people randomly killed raped and stole before society developed?
1. When exactly did society "develop"? Talk about a vague statement.
2. What, if any, evidence do you have to support that?
Religion is little more than an excuse not to do something bad when someone never would have done it anyway. It takes a very specific and twisted mind for someone to bring themselves to murder or rape, and most people simply cannot, it's nothing to do with logic.
The most effective thing I've seen religion used as is a banner to rally the troops behind when going to war.