If there were no religious fanatics in the world we would all live happier lives. Just think of it. Radical Islam fundamentalists have polluted the world with terrorism and the most unholy of regimes like in Iran where they threaten to destroy other countries with nuclear weapons. The Catholic Church tolerates child abuse and seeks to intrude on the rights of non-believers with archaic dogma. Need I mention the Inquisition where people were burned at the stake? Fundamentalist Jews oppress and degrade women. I could go on and on but I think you get the point. I guess the fact that so many people are religious is the hope that there is an afterlife which of course is open to lots of doubt. I'm all for making things better on this planet and that would happen if religious fanatics got lost.