I feel conflicted about this. On one hand, religion is a large source of conflict around the world. Its restrictive norms make life uncomfortable for those who

I feel conflicted about this. On one hand, religion is a large source of conflict around the world. Its restrictive norms make life uncomfortable for those who don't align to them. On the other hand, religion codifies how to live a good life, and people with the same religion often share the same values and beliefs, making inter-community cooperation much easier. I don't think it's a coincidence that at the same time our country loses its religion, it also loses its sense of community. I think both stem from our changing culture that has no real norms besides "think about yourself, give yourself a good life, and let other people figure out how to do that on their own." It's a shame, in a way.