Very early in human history humans were extraordinarily ignorant. We have been gaining knowledge, exponentially as of late, and yet religion, as it has been practiced for the last 2000 to 6000 years, has stagnated horribly into a political tool. (not that it mostly was ever anything else) IF ANY religion showed the slightest hint at taking new knowledge into the belief system it would not only get my attention, but might blow me away. The unwritten law of TRADITION that seems to pervade most religions is employed as an inherent system of control and the stifling of reality. Very very sad indeed. Old knowledge is one thing. Old myth is another thing entirely. All religions that are of the Sons of Abraham, at this point in human history, are deeply and inherently flawed. Just as a human needs to grow, I would expect that the belief in God should be the VERY FIRST THING to grow, to evolve, to expand and to develop as our intelligence, knowledge and understanding of Creation grows. That has, simply put, NOT BEEN THE CASE!! So far, there is enough we don't know, that does not preclude the possible existence of God. Maybe he does, Maybe he doesn't. We don't know. However, 13.7 billion years later, and a million million miracles later, here we are; humans, who think, and can conceive and wonder. Whatever you believe you have to acknowledge the spirituality and wonderment of such a thing. I can believe that a God might exist, in that context. As there is no "proof" that he does exist, it leaves a lot of room for doubt, however, there is no proof he doesn't exist either. The existence of the universe, and US in it, gives one pause though. Humans seem to need Religion. Humans seem to need politics. I wish we could keep them completely separate. That does not seem to happen in actual practice. Too bad. So to answer the original question: Religion, as it is currently practiced as a whole IS BAD!!! Do we need it? Collectively, yes. I just wish there was a religion in existence worth our following. If you don't believe in God, that does not get you off the hook, by the way. Look around. The Universe is BIG and demands attention. It is real. Believe in THAT!!!! Worship our very existence in it. Worship the fact you are alive and part of a sociological phenomenon. There is NOTHING to question in that. There is no other proof needed for that. THAT is reality. THAT is worthy. Maybe religion will step up.
