Yes. Then we might actually get some medical research done, without being called out as 'playing God.'

Difficult question. With several difficult answers. TL;DR [spoiler]Yes. As Religion (Specifically Organized Religion) stands today, it serves as a rift between people. It is overly judgemental and impedes human progress. It is homogenously alien to most, if not all of the natural functions of the world. Humanity uses it more as a crutch/excuse than an inspiration. That said, [i]SPIRITUALITY[/i] is something very necessary to the human condition. The belief in something greater than oneself is the most comforting thought to many the world over. Therefore, while I disagree with the institution of Religion, I must approve of it's core message.[/spoiler] Before I delve in headfirst, let me give you a bit of background: I was born and raised Methodist christian. I attended church every sunday, participated in sunday school, VBS, and went to numerous christian events. (Spirit West Coast, Youth Alive, etc.) I departed from the church my junior year of high school. I'd never really felt the spirituality of it and the structure of organized religion had begun to bother me. (Blame it on teenage rebelliousness if you will) I am currently agnostic and maintain a certain level of spirituality (I do believe in SOMETHING), but currently do not attend any relgious organized events. At a baseline, my own moral code (product of my youth and circumstances growing up) finds the institution of religion repugnant. The benefits of gathering for organized worship is adulterated by the human need for power. As it stands today, religion is a control structure by which to pacify the faithful. Preachers forsake the spirituality of religion to instead spread a agenda of power and control. Harsh words I realize. But sadly, few churchgoers can reconcile their instincts of the world with the spirituality that comes with the belief in a higher power. They become detached and often lose the ability to think for themselves. (If not in everything, in certain matters) It's tragic, because I can't have conversastion about religion or politics with some of the smartest people I know because they bring so much emotion into the equation that if I even bring up the possibility of questioning their methods I am berrated. Another unfortunate thing I've noticed, specifically when it comes to the Christian faith, is that people use it as a crutch instead of an inspiration. They believe that because all their sins in the end are absolved if they seek to be saved, they can get away with almost anything down here on earth. They do not embody the Word, they simply use it as a 'get out of jail free' card. I'm pretty sure that wasn't the original intent. I'm rambling a bit. It's a bit hard to get your ducks in a row when thinking on religion because it is such a massive subject. But in summary: I believe religion (the institution or organized religion) does more harm than good. It controls the populace, creates gaps in our overarching unity, and serves all too often as a crutch instead of an inspiration.

I'm real late to the party here, but here's my take on religion. It was absolutely necessary to have in the past for the same reasons you said. It kept order, brought people together. Without religion it would be difficult to argue that morals would be developed. Why would one person care for another, especially when survival was something which came down to a dog-eat-dog mentality. Religion taught people values, and gave them a god who enforces these values. Every religion, at it's core, is filled with both peaceful and co-operative messages. Without religion, and the unison it brought, civilizations may very well have never reached the level they did. We might not even be where we are now without religion tying people together. Religion in the modern world ironically serves the exact opposite function that it did in the past. It tears people apart more than it brings us together. In my personal opinion it was through the growth of communications and the human race that it became a problem. Rather than unify people it gave them a reason to feel separate. The promise of a good afterlife, and the fear of God wasn't enough incentive to keep people on track once we came close to one another. In fact it gave people an excuse to fight one another. The gains they would get from going to war could be justified through their 'righteous' means. I think today, religion has very little positives to offer. We've come so far as a race that many of the rules and values they teach are irrelevant. Now, I still do believe that each religion has certain aspects which every person should know and follow. What I don't believe is that a religion as a whole should be followed the way we do now. Many lessons are important, but it no longer serves the function of bringing us together. It only tears us as a race apart. Religion is a function which is thousands of years old. It, as a function, is becoming obsolete. The values and morals are important, but it only holds us back. The functions of religion should be dropped, allowing us all to become unified as one. And rather than being unified by a set of beliefs, unified by a set of truths and realisms. The sciences and hard facts should be the only things that we follow as strongly as we follow religion today.

I like my religion, I like practicing it and the world would be so boring without religious history. And even if you take away all religions there will still be killing, wars and so on.

Yes, It would take the "because my religion"-argument away. After that if you were to assault a gay guy you'd be just considered trash. Think about the world with out religion: No Inquisition(etc religious torture)/religious discrimination No Religious war/ terrorism MUCH less bigots No idiots arguing against science! YES, the world would be a better place. The problem is that getting rid of it will be difficult. It's just like Marx said; Opium of the people. And as with any addiction, it's bloody hard to get rid of.

Yes, so I wouldn't have to spend an hour every week going to someone's house and reading a book about it.

mao zedong was an atheist and he killed more people than all the crusades combined. furthermore, the catholic church is possibly the only reason why all progress before the dark ages wasn't lost. some people are afraid of a world with religion, but im terrified of what the world would look like without religion.

I stand corrected, religion does influence good and also influence evil, with or with out religion good and evil will always be present. That's the way the universe keeps it's balance. Positive and Negative. I would be a NeoPagan. Since I don't believe in gods but I find more beliavable the olympus gods or the asgard gods, that makes me a NeoPagan.

I'm a Christian, so I say no.

Of course not. Religion is an incredibly valuable thing. It makes people happy, and gives them hope.