However there is a more subtle point here too. That being the wholesale encouragement of belief in the supernatural in an institutional way.

Acceptance of miracles, life after death, wishes being granted, pray and you might get it … and so on, I believe is damaging because of its ready, non critical acceptance and the fact it gets to the young so easily and quickly.

I applaud all the good works that we can ascribe to religious organisations and I think that contribution is sometimes lost among the Skeptical community when we discuss these matters.

If you ever watch “secret millionaire”, a horribly contrived but fundamentally uplifting programme, you see some indication of the quiet and hidden works being carried out by religious groups. I’m not saying that programme is entirely representative, only that religion is part of the fabric of our society. At least the mainstream ones are.

Therefore, it’s all very well to argue for its displacement, but babies and bathwater are one of the risks.

Education, a statutory approach to the encouragement of critical thinking, and some regulation appertaining to the introduction of religion to youngsters and how it is intially framed for them by the authorities are areas of interest for me in this topic.

I wish i had said that

My world would barely be affected – I have the fortune to be raised in a fairly non-religious democracy in the Western world – but I think it’s terribly naive to assume that religion as we see it in the UK is religion as it is in practice across the world. Religion as we experience it doesn’t have people stoned to death, or shot for wearing trousers – others aren’t that fortunate. If the only way to get rid of religious oppression of that kind were to do away with all religion – including the fuzzy, helping-hand kind we have in the UK – then I would do it without hesitation.

I would not describe myself as an Atheist, although I don’t subscribe to religion, or any other celestial none entity for that matter now that Colin has put paid to my belief in Santa.

Do I think the world would be a better place without it, no not really, people should be able to think what they like if it gets you through the days.

If I was offered the choice of removing all the religious stories and morals that have been preached to me over the earlier years, primary school in-particular, secondary school religion consisted a single hymn practice on the first day, along with a small red copy of the New Testament, I would opt to have things left as they are. I believe that most of the stories and ethics that were bestowed upon me have helped to shape the person I am today, and that can only be a good thing as anyone who knows me well will testify. Plus without that small red bible I would have nowhere to stash my spare car keys .

To sum up my point, I think that the exposure I have had to religion has been harmless, and in many ways beneficial. Its the self proclaimed dictators that start banging on about prayer heals death and cancer, and that washing your eyeballs in root of potato and wine will stop you going blind, that are causing the most damage and the sooner these voices are silenced from the public face of society the better.

Thats my 2 pence worth, not that it makes any sense. Enjoy and keep up the good work –Mr H–