The following is an answer and/or comment by inhahe aka ColorStorm (inhahe.com - myriachromat.wordpress.com).
Given the pros and cons associated with deeply held religious beliefs, do you think that 'religion' overall is a positive or negative thing?

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Pretty negative. All the holy wars they've caused, all the guilt religion induces, all the judgment and condemnation for "sins" that are actually not wrong in any way (and are sometimes essential to one's happiness, as in the case of gay people), the ridiculous black and white and also rigid way of viewing the world, the way it separates us from God through false beliefs about him, such that he's a vengeful and judging god, and the resulting fear of him, and of course the fact that any false belief isn't a benefit to the believer..