Kind of a hard question to answer, since "religion" is a super broad term. It depends on the religious beliefs and what morals/values it espouses. It can be a force for either good or bad, depending on what the morals and values are. Atheism doesnt espouse any particular morals or values, it is just a term to describe lack of belief in God, and says nothing about morals/values one way or the other.
"Of course, everyone will claim they respect someone who tries to speak the truth, but in reality, this is a rare quality. Most respect those who speak truths they agree with, and their respect for the speaking only extends as far as their realm of personal agreement. It is less common, almost to the point of becoming a saintly virtue, that someone truly respects and loves the truth seeker, even when their conclusions differ wildly."
-walsh
-walsh
