I think it is generally accepted that religion played an important role in the development of urban civilization. What is the benefit of religion in modern society? We no longer need it to trust strangers, to organize large groups. It has become a tool for political manipulation, for convincing people to act against their own self-interests.

Across the planet we are inflicted with religious nationalist movements. Here in the US the Republican Party's political success is largely because it has learned how to manipulate "people of faith". Islamic fundamentalism has taken over the muslim nations, replacing the largely secular political movements of the 20th century in those regions, and that transformation has been spectacularly horrible. In India, the secular Congress Party has all but disappeared, replaced instead by Hindu Nationalist political movements. In Burma, Buddhist nationalists appear to have committed something close to genocide against the muslim minorities there.

in itself, really does not play much of a beneficial role in societies. It may seem to, but societies appear to behave in ways that are based on other things, generally. Religion is just as likely to lead to violence and warfare as it is to lead to peace and cooperation. History is full of religion-themed wars. It is also full of attempts to bring peace. In both cases, religion is there, but I don't believe it plays much of a role in either.

Societies are made up of people, and it seems to me that the priorities and tendencies of people have more to do with how the society acts than religious belief. Think about it: Most religions counsel peace in their scriptures. Yet, people are warlike.

I don't know, frankly. I don't see where religious belief has had any particular effect on good and evil in a historical sense. I think those occur based on human nature, rather than on religious beliefs.

I have concluded that what unites us can also be used to divide us.