Would humanity suffer if religion was removed from the earth?

Question

Common sense and continuing education tells me that religion is nonsense. Despite this I happen to believe it's necessary and good for religion to exist. Without religion to fill certain emotional needs or to serve as their purpose in life, I believe a large number of the less intelligent or willfully ignorant people on the earth would self destruct and take out rational people with them. Anyway, this theory is a work in progress and I’d be happy to hear your opinions. What are your thoughts on this?

PS. When I say religion I can only speak of the ones I’ve investigated. These include Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and a few smaller ones.

Answer 1

Any change that large would come as a shock to society.

Having said that, why assume that there is nothing that could fill the hole that used to be filled with religion? A lot of mainline Protestant churches are already pretty close to social clubs with charitable wings. The difference between the Methodist church and the Junior League is a matter of emphasis more than anything else.

I think you could come up with a platter of activities that would fulfill all the social and psychological roles that religion plays in American society.