> Is religion necessary to instill hope and morality in the "masses?" What do
> people think? I'm perfectly happy, moral, etc. without religion, but what
> about the other 90% of the population. There are so many stupid people out
> there! Is religion necessary to keep them in line?
>
> -Josh
Religion is a psychological defense mechanism to help individuals
cope with the fact of their inevitable eventual death and the fear this
instills in them, by offering them the promise that their personalities,
psyches and/or self-awarenesses will not die when their bodies do,
but will survive elsewhere (heaven, another body, etc.), or telling
them that the idea that they're alive now is an illusion, so death is no
great change.