I think one of the biggest missteps of modern industrial society was to disregard religion as outmoded without making any attempt to fill the psychological void

I think one of the biggest missteps of modern industrial society was to disregard religion as outmoded without making any attempt to fill the psychological void it leaves. Seen in this light, atheism is clearly not interchangeable with religion. There are no weekly gatherings of atheists who praise the beauty and glory of creation. Religion is a reminder to take a step back and think about the big picture. Atheists can do that as well, of course; they just don't have much reason to do it, because atheism is not something you practice. It's not a way of life. It's just a void. And like you said, that void threatens the integrity of a community. We need a new religion. Nothing out there right now is cutting it.