Re: "Would The World Be Better Off Without Religion?"
Now that I think about it there is very little difference between religions and the State. Both demand money, allegiance and your life.
One will take care of you in this existence, one in the next.
Haven't really thought about it, but consider this. If one expresses dissatisfaction with some aspect of their country, jingoists start hollering, "Love it or leave it!"
If one expresses dissatisfaction with their religion, it's the same cry. Or be thrown out.
Both have a specific set of beliefs, neither tolerates a challenge to the power structure, and so on.
Interesting.
Arf