Quote Originally Posted by Louis VI the Fat View Post
There is one problem with the article. Yes, religion has fine community values. The author jubilantly concludes that the atheism/religious debate ought to concentrate on this. However, once the jubilant 'gotcha!' makes way for more reflection, it is clear that this position will soon get religious folk into trouble. One should, namely, then accept that one could change all the mumbo-jumbo of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and what not, into whatever new nonsense and it wouldn't make any difference.

In other words, if I were to force Christians to burn the bible and worship my hairy arse instead they'd still be as happy and community-spirited and generous to charity. This aspect of religionism is exactly why I am an atheist, and why debate about religion ought not be limited to the author's framework.
I think the point of the article is more along the lines that atheists should not be so fiercely opposed to religion, to point out that religion has it's benefits and that there is a reason for people to be religious.
The way I see it he just says when people have some sort of religion they can relate to they often become nice towards eachother, get more communal spirit etc. which is mostly an argument against the folks who run around screaming religion is the greatest evil and we should get rid of it altogether.
Let everyone decide that for themselves and appreciate that religion causes some people to be nicer than if they were atheists.
They might be interchangeable for you but they are not for religious people.