Why religion should not vanish

[The Grand Nudger]

Indeed, for some like Hitler the threat of divine wrath wasn't enough, but does the same not ring true in secular countries? We still have rapists and thieves despite the threat of the death penalty or life imprisonment.

We do, but they (our legal systems) are fallible, incomplete, and constantly under revision. Can you offer a religion ready to abandon a core tenet when it conflicts with the interest of law? In what way, then, would it continue to be a religion?

The point is however the law itself is still deterrent enough for the majority of the masses.

But still a necessary deterrent, so far as we can tell. What is necessarry about religion as it applies to law?

The difference is though that to the believer a divine law is far more powerful than any secular threat. A Judge can only condemn you for however long you have left to live, Orcus can torment you forever and ever. Who's going to get their ass kissed and whims pandered to more?

A question that suicide bombers have answered very clearly, as you mention below. Aren't you making the case -for-...not -against- the practical value of religion?

Clearly this is a problem when Venus craves the blood of the infidel, but if we're working on the premise that there is no God some rather clever little theologian shouldn't have too much of a problem changing that to "Venus wants rapists to be put behind bars" and propagating that value amongst the public.

Sure...if you have a system capable of creating that effect you could make that happen..-or-...you could demand the blood..even if there is no god (which is what we see anyway). I don't know that I'd advocate such a system myself. Especially since we don't have to invoke Venus at all..whether Venus commands it or it's just the law the effect is the same. She's unnecessary baggage, as I've mentioned.

Mostly this seems to be a sort of "level the ground" kind of thing..which is baffling. Both systems working...the one at least has the godly baggage - whereas the other does not. Get rid of the godly baggage and you aren't left with much "religion" as you seem to be using the term.

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A secular agency would cost multi millions to be persuaded to fly over to Ireland and take over the education system, the Catholic Church is willing to do it for a few nods of respect and an hour in a church every sunday.

...and respect, and cultural deference, and tax exempt status...don't forget the tax status. There are other things that the church in Ireland gets as compensation for such a service, close to kids and all...but I'll let those who enjoy it more take that one and run with it.