In the Irish Times, David Adams, an atheist, addresses the contention that religion has no place at all in modern society:
It is one thing to point out the contradictions and irrationality of religious belief, and the dangers it can sometimes pose (and it is absolutely crucial that we ensure religion is kept separate from government, and is held publicly accountable and open to criticism). However, it is something else altogether to argue, as Dawkins and others do, that we should dispense with it altogether.
Are we meant to believe that murderous fanaticism would disappear along with religion? Apparently, yes. But to believe that, we must also accept that religion alone breeds such fanaticism, or at least is more prone to producing dangerous fanatics than any other belief system. Yet, this is simply not true. Certainly religion has its extreme adherents, and they can cause great harm, but the same is equally true of virtually every other belief system.
Read the full article here.