Religion, the hobgoblin of the so-called rational types and devout atheists. Yes, religion in what is commonly perceived to mean an ideology or creed of faith based on the authority of scripture, can be very well blamed for rampant confusion and conflict in civilization.
Although what is never asked is what does "religion" even mean? It's true meaning, without unnecessary attachments and interpretations.
Thomas Jefferson is famous for removing all of the supernatural, miracles, and anything that portrayed Jesus as divine in the New Testament; and he kept only select passages, a total of forty-six pages of simple words from the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Jefferson was concerned, and rightly so, about how the doctrines of Christ would become used dogmatically by the clergy to gain power and contrive wealth from its followers. The history of Christianity is ripe with examples vindicating Jefferson and other deists who believed the priests and institutions would tarnish the teachings of Jesus.
Atheists are quick to dismiss all of religion given all it's mystical claims and adherence to scripture out of mere faith. Interestingly, it seems they are only half right.
We can use reason and observation of nature to posit certain supernatural things may be of pure fantasy based on far-flung speculation. However, maintaining some faith in the final causes of things, or rather understanding that ignorance does indeed exist is uniquely human as far I can tell; and this serves a purpose and sense of direction for ourselves ensuring our principles can stay intact whether they be non-violence, voluntaryism, or any other moral choices.
Would this faith then be called religion? Perhaps, taken in a plain technical definition it would be, but since the word has became an imposter term, it's difficult to know what anybody genuinely means when they talk about religion as it's come to be associated with creed—a collectivist concept coming from an originally individualist interpretation about spiritual matters.
