This was one of the poorest, or perhaps most devious, arguments I've lately come across. Every single "axiom" the writer proposes is precisely the opposite of what everyone knows to be historical reality.

Judeo-Christian ideology does not believe the world is good. Quite the opposite. The Old Testament primarily dotes on a capricious god who, after declaring "His" work "good," proceeds to destroy it willy-nilly. The ancient Hebrews live in fear of nature and every other tribe around them, constantly begging god to "smite them," which "He" often does... while turning a blind eye to the crimes of his own "chosen people." Why, tens of thousands of Israelites are killed by their brethren on the very day that Moses brings down the commandment, "Thou Shalt Not Kill." Certainly not believing in his own commandments, God shrugs. Of the thousands of words in the Bible, a scant few are dedicated to appreciating any of the beauty and wonder of nature. All of this by people who had no clue how "reality" works.

Then comes along Christianity with its obsession with sin. We are born sinful. Really? Everyone is sinful... for their entire lives. The entire religion, while supposedly based on the legitimately wise compassion of Jesus, actually turns decidedly away from these precepts and establishes belief in a supernatural "savior," who now becomes the one and only portal to "Heaven." Now, that's a recipe for getting along with others! And, again, concocted by people who had not the remotest inkling of how "reality" works.

It is to the after-life that Christianity focuses, all the while terrorizing billions with its concocted visions of hell. This world can go to hell. It is impure and sinful and dirty and dangerous. Just survive it, accept Jesus as your lord and savior, and you, too, can escape this terrible place and go to somewhere nice. Sure enough, religionists (of all types) have been basically AWOL in any efforts to protect and preserve, much less love, the natural world.

Of course, once it was adopted by the Romans, "Christianity" became one of the most oppressive forces human culture has ever known. Rivers of blood were spilled in the name of the "lamb of God."

Since then religion has viciously fought every stitch of human progress, including moral progress. To this very day it is at war with democracy, science, the arts, and most efforts to propel humanity into a less stupified (and religion is nothing if not the attempt to stupify its adherents and society) state of being.

That oppressive streak remains alive in all forms of conservatism (which is larger than religion and does not need it to oppress... i.e. the mis-labeled "leftist" communists.. who are as genuinely conservative as anyone in history). We can see religious ignorance, intolerance and meanness stirring in the red (religious) states as the ban books, take over education, take away rights and generally attempt to enforce their antique beliefs on the rest of society.

And, of course, if you look around the world, you'll quickly note that the places where religion has waned in popularity and power, are the modern, peaceful nations... while those most deeply entwined with religion are rife with violence and backwardness.

As a proud "leftist," I try hard not to "hate" anyone or anything, aware of the adage, "Hate corrodes the vessel that contains it," yet cannot avoid the all too obvious conclusion that religion remains a retardant to human culture, progress, happiness, peace and sustainability. Religionists in these modern countries can be thankful for the tolerance of the "left," If religion was in charge... well, that would be a totally different story... that history has told, and quite a few nations even today reinforce.