Question Author
Oh, come, come, Chakka. Others may want to say something too. Me, for example. :o)
I didn't realise until this question was put to me that I do have something to thank religion for, since objective study of fear-based doctrines with their inaccuracies, contradictions, and blatant dishonesty, in itself, produces conclusions contrary to those that religion is designed primarily to generate. In short, anyone who has the courage to question the lessons learned will find upon objective observation that religion well and truly shoots itself in the foot. The truth of the greatest lie ever told is there, in religion, for anyone who wishes to seek it. Whether or not the quality of my objectivity has been enhanced by my studies in this area, I can't say, but I believe that my willingness to utilise my powers of objectivity to the best of my ability has grown. There is no topic so emotive as religion, and therefore truly objective investigation into this subject, and the acceptance of the undeniable truth of its resulting outcome, requires not only an element of confidence in one�s own abilities and in one�s self-sufficiency, but also an overt readiness to reject the convention of the accepted status quo. In such an instance, one could honestly say that religion sometimes teaches us a lot more than religion.