If Joan, a poor illiterate peasant girl from the Middle Ages could do that, could forgive and bless the people who tortured and condemned her even in the name of her own religion and through the power of that very institition, well ... may I also someday find the grace, wisdom and compassion to do likewise.

Showing compassion is a positive thing and being able to do so in those circumstances, especially so.

But it is very clear that organised religion still needs people in order to survive - but do people need still organised religion in order to survive?

Does organised religion help the planet's chances of future survival or does it hinder them and just present us all with further complications?

Or is it thought to do neither? And if organised religion is thought to do neither - perhaps it is now time to say thank you, goodbye and move on without it?