The religion *is* the people who make up it's members.
I'm not God's child, at least, no more than he is mine
That's not all that needs to be on the bottom line though. Yes, it is a good one, but it doesn't explain or comment on the other reasons we have religion. It's not just to justify atrocities, even if it's 90% that!
It has to be accepted that 'the masses' really *are* stupid and really do need religion, or a mind-controlling mass-media/government to tell them how to live their lives and what to think.
But what of the likes of you and I, who are not victims of the naturally inborn mass-hysteria disease? Do we need something to believe in, something to belong to?
I think we do. But I also think that we should never ever let anyone else tell us what to think, feel, or believe. Sure we can look at other peoples' ideas, but only as a way to inspire our own.
My beliefs are a little extensive, but I feel they would be agreeable to most people. Nevertheless I would probably bore you all to tears if I went through them all here. Why? Because they're mine, and they're no more relevant to you than the Pope's ideas about when you are and aren't allowed to have sex.
The biggest problem with religion is it treats everyone as part of the mass, makes them all believe the same thing and effectively become one big easily manageable person.