I think many religions have intriguing and even healthy and productive philosophies and ideas -that said, it's also just as obvious that religions are a product of man. Short version of a thought. - The 'Christian' religious person must admit that it is possible for an individual to exist, and to be 100% certain in their faith/correctness...and yet that same person be simultaneously 100% incorrect. All the 'Christian' must do is acknowledge the fact that there are 'Muslims' with the same degree of conviction etc. -- You run the same line the other way... and you come to the conclusion that they are an exact mirror .... and they are both their best argument AND EVIDENCE ...that they are both correct and incorrect. Which is to say...in the above it is a certainty that an individual in a position of MAXIMUM faith ...can also be maximally wrong. That above is a sort of prelude to a broad discussion with respect to why it seems a rather obvious thing that religions broadly are a creation of man..re seeking answers to shared unknowns..that are universal aspects of the human condition. Leaving the factual/real-or-not aspect there's the social effect. And I will say, that religion is an underrated aspect of some of the partisan and political gridlock today and I think one of the reasons why its so easy to spread and have an appreciable portion of various population adopt ideas and beliefs that...to a critical unbiased reasoned observer...are obviously false...like...blatantly.....super obvious. In a discussion with a friend an idea/thought to illustrate the idea of the degree of cognitive dissonance/willful ignorance for some in this area: 'An individual with all senses in perfect working order. Walks into a 10'x10' room ...all the walls are painted white...and in the room there is a completely white table with two objects on it. The only objects with any color other than white. -- On the table is a Green Triangle, and a Blue Square. --- The objective/goal ...is to be able to correctly identify....which is which.' THAT is the level of..... disconnect we've got -- where the above is impossible for some ie. 'flat earth' vibes .... Anyway...circling back to your question. Religion...establishes a life rhythm and convention that is strongly socially reinforced...where you go to a building...purpose built for it...you gather together....and typically some male dude...stands at the front of the room...and proceeds to break several laws of physics and in direct contraction to the evidence and data we experience and 'collect' every day. Why this is 'not so desirable' -- is that you then have a situation where every Sunday...a n appreciable portion of the population..gathers together...and communally agrees to.....without critical thought or question; on faith....just believe/accept...what the guy at the front of the room says. Even if it is contrary to all available, detectable, experienced and measurable evidence. THAT is dangerous. And it's part of the reason why its easy to get a good chunk of folks...vehemently behind...really destructive..and obviously incorrect or poor idea....and wouldn't ya know....if you look at the downstream outcome of alot of the bogus stuff folks are asked to support? ..... Typically ends up in garnering power or wealth to a very real....very HUMAN individual. Then..we get to sit through the silly bit where this same crowd says they don't just go along with the crowd' ...when a Speaker of a House can't get elected for instance. When the reality is...one of the greatest strengths of that voting block IS the power of having a giant group of people that - do not require evidence - they've got 'faith' -- and so on Sunday...a message goes from cable news --> pastors --> pews. No thought required! -- And boom 18% is vehemently ready to run out and tell their neighbors why 'Handmaids Tale' has some good points.... HA! This perpetual state of irrationality, paradox, and cognitive dissonance is how we then see...folks talking all about Jesus stuff...but support precisely zero 'jesus type shit' .... and 'freedom' ...but ....can't smoke this, can't have sex with this person, etc etc. This is of course...about control...by people that know very 'the game' ..that do not in any way 'believe' ...but they know they can acquire money and power....just gotta say the world...or hold the book up...even upside down. Don't even have to have read it...just be near it and say the things like you agree. Then we wonder why our taxes, money, and politics are a mess...