> That aside, you have to work a little bit harder to discern religious practices that are rooted in activities that are observably and directly beneficial to i

> That aside, you have to work a little bit harder to discern religious practices that are rooted in activities that are observably and directly beneficial to individuals and society (meditation, compassion) Leaving meditation out of this, I think the religious practices you're implying were basic human moral practices adopted _by_ religion, not the other way around.