Just to comment on Mcgraphs post. As I understand it, evolution is not the official position of the Catholic Church and though the current pope seems to embrace it , perhaps taking advice from other hierarchy I suspect that many if not most rank and file Catholics worldwide take the creation account at face value. And neither is it just the supposed uneducated either. The kolbe institute is a catholic creationist body. I read a review only recently of a father cleric who is well qualified in science and theology and a substantial book he wrote on the subject.                                                                              Bill suggests that religion is popular because it is comfortable and easy. In the sense that knowing your sins are forgiven and eternal life is given by the merits of Christ,s work of atonement , I suppose so, but being a Christian has often been far from easy and comfortable . Christians have in the past, and sometimes still do , pay with their lives.    Belief in God certainly has been held for thousands of years , but probably because it was a presuppositional obvious. As for establishing aspects of religion into law, public policy and education, that is exactly what secular religion is doing.