Science doesn’t take anecdotes.

Most food pantries and beds for the homeless in the USA are faith based. Here are the scientific papers that show it.

A descriptive analysis of food pantries in twelve American states: hours of operation, faith-based affiliation, and location

Assessing the Faith-Based Response to Homelessness in America: Findings from Eleven Cities

People claim money actually exists, too. It’s not an inherent property of human existence. It’s just an organizing principle that helps us coordinate resources.

It would be stupid if the main argument we had about money was whether on not it “exists.” By “stupid” I mean that it is counterproductive to the goals of bettering humanity. We don’t get anywhere with that discussion. Instead, we talk about how we should use use money as a tool to better organize our society. We talk about equity and advancement and poverty.

It’s the same with religion. It’s been well studied that religion offers social benefits:

Association between spirituality/religiousness and quality of life 2021

Assessing the Faith-Based Response to Homelessness in America

63.2% food pantries are identified as being faith-based food pantries

With this being Lemmy, I don’t have to highlight the negative consequences of religion.

The point is that we should be advancing beyond the kindergarten level discussion about what’s real and what’s make-believe. Intelligent people should instead be engaging on how we can ensure religious beliefs are fostering social trust, or how to recognize and combat religious extremism.

Why make an ideological argument against ideologies?

Science also led to eugenics and atom bombs. Religion also builds food pantries, wells, and hospitals. It is not about the tool but how we choose to use it.

What a stupid premise to begin with. God is at least as real as money, love, or America.

All of these are useful ideas to describe things that cannot be “proven” with objective evidence, but still have a meaningful impact on the reality of our lives.

Arguing about the objective existence of God is a red herring. I wish we spent as much time talking about the very well studied social benefits and harms of religion. Then we could start talking about meaningful reforms.