I'm not a believer, although I can see the appeal of faith and the collective power of a religion. However, it's wrong to oppose the concept of religion due to some bad eggs.
Many societies have tried to eradicate religion and they are always worse than the ones that were tolerant of it; Mao, Pol Pot, Stalin. Even Hitler oppressed the church.
Religious fundementalism is just as bad if not worse, but religion isn't the problem; an extreme interpretation of it is.
The problem is always an extreme interpretation; whether its national identity, socialism, islam, christianity..whatever.
No doubt loads of truly awful people have hidden behind religion and those religions have helped them hide and do awful acts, but we shouldn't tar the entire concept of religion with that brush.
Just as how for centuries churches have organised and supported housing and food for the poor doesn't mean we overlook them when they do appalling things.
