How about this - instead of "I believe in god" I would say "I know God exists" the same way I know the Okapi and Giraffe exist. Without getting all philosophically existential, of course. I save my "I believe in you!" for Lifetime Network moments when people need the ego boost.
If God exists and clearly hasn't interfered with things that should be taken care of, or is deliberately malevolent, I'd say it wouldn't change the people in religious power one iota. They don't do it for religion. They do it because people are sheep and they get off on the power trip.
If God exists and clearly hasn't interfered with things that should be taken care of, or is deliberately malevolent, I'd say it wouldn't change the people in religious power one iota. They don't do it for religion. They do it because people are sheep and they get off on the power trip.