Jeri said: "I also don't like schools whose main focus is teaching children how to think, as opposed to what. "...

I'd have to hear that explained in more detail, as it seems just backwards to me. I have often dreamed of an educational system that does teach people, from about 2nd-3grade on HOW to think: meaning the rules of logic, rationality, linguistic clarity to avoid equivocation and the identification of the various informal fallacies

This would not tell anyone what to think, but would merely help them to avoid the most egregious errors in the way they explain & defend the 'whats'. One could still 'believe' in various debatable concepts if they understood the status OF their beliefs... (though I assume 'clear thinking' would generally reduce the number & force of subjective beliefs)

As Steve Shaw has said so well, "no one knows whether there is a god or not". Still, the idea of an "intelligent design" leading to an afterlife, salvation and the efficacy of prayer is very tempting and psychologically helpful for many. In one sense, it does not NEED to be 'true' to be comfortable. I, personally, do not feel that lack of metaphysical beliefs make me, or my life, any better OR worse... I try to make sense & 'do good things' because, as Mammy Yokum in Li'l Abner said, "Good is better'n evil 'cause it's nicer."

   I think I can recognize 'evil' in various ways without any formal religion explaining to me in complex ways thru the intervention of arcane books and theologians who interpret those books for me.