All babies are basically chimpanzees without all the hair. They rely on parenting to give them a moral compass (although this seems to be sadly lacking in some cases) so that they can take their place in civilised society. The Christian religions, taking away the "God delusion", teach that we should treat others as we would wish to be treated. Not in itself a bad thing. However, when linked in to the "burn in hell for each sin" concept which I encountered as a Catholic child, it is not necessarily ideal. There is a reason why religion has been referred to as the "opium of the masses". The idea that there is a deity who is in control of life, even if you are not, is strangely addictive. Unfortunately, it has the negative effect of allowing people to avoid taking responsibility for their actions. I have a good friend who, when faced with a problem, prays then allows her bible to fall open. She shuts her eyes and points. The answer to the problem is where her finger falls. Not sure how this works (especially with all the begetting which went on) but it helps to reassure her that there is a larger plan, of which she is only a part. Sorry this is such a huge post. I'm sure people will disagree with me. But if we were all the same life would be very dull indeed.