Would the world neccesarily be a better place without God/religion?

[Cosmic Ape]

[Faith No More]

The prospect of God being proven not to exist frightens me because of all the times I have heard a believer ask, "without God, why are you not out raping and murdering?" Some people just need a higher authority watching over them to do the right thing.

[Ace Otana]

Would it?

I'd be interested to hear all your reasons as to why

Possible but most uncertain. Mainly because stupid and sick people still do stupid and sick things regardless of belief or lack of. The corrupt and the mentally unstable are still corrupt and mentally unstable. Despite that, intolerance however may decline with the absence of religious nonsense. Religion does show a lot of intolerance and hate. It also likes to interfear with the education system as well as politics. If there was no religious madness, perhaps schools will be given a break and kids educated without people's religious beliefs interfering.
I think there would be plenty of gain with the absence of religion, no more suicide bombers, no more religious lunatics flying planes into buildings.

[downbeatplumb]

Religion is just another reason for conflict and oppression, remove it and you'd still have all the others.

[passionatefool]

I think religion had a purpose and was necessary at one point, maybe not, but currently, I'm sure religion does more harm than benefits.

[Minimalist]

I doubt the world would be any worse off and there would be hope for the future.

[AthiestAtheist]

Bah, I'm gonna not pussyfoot around and just say yes. If nothing else changed, then yes, almost by definition.