Religion!

Comment about a comment about an article about why The Book of Mormon is not worth seeing.

This is a somewhat pathetic discourse. The OP put out his ideas, and many took umbrage, responding with mostly anecdotal claims to point out the obvious fact that religion does not mean the end of the world. Big deal. As an atheist, I have a hard time relating to the OP, because really, what's the point? Is a post on a message board going to dissuade people from their faith? And why should you want it to? Many people find great strength and comfort from belief in some sort of spiritual world or supernatural being, and how does it do unbelievers any good to deprive them of that? As the author of the article points out, faith drives many people to do good humanitarian things. Would it be more aesthetically pleasing if they did it for humanistic reasons than religious ones? Perhaps, but I don't see too huge a difference. As long as there's no quid pro quo going on with religious humanitarian aid, then what's the big deal?

Logic and science will advance independent of religion. The world is not fettered by religion, but comforted by it. And, as an atheist, you should realize that the impulse for faith comes from human qualities, just as does the impulse for the wars that you blame on religion. Do you believe Hitler would have been less of a tyrant if he were an atheist instead of a Christian? Doubtful. The presence or absence of religion will not magically make humanity good or evil; smart or stupid. To suggest that religion itself could so radically shift the bell curve of human qualities is to give it supernatural power indeed.