"I never actually mentioned a risk; I was talking about odds and logic, but since you ask, the track record of religion so far hasn't exactly been trouble-free.


Smokey

OK, my mistake. However, as I indicated, I agree that religion has a very risky track record. I will take it much farther than your modest assessment.

"On an individual basis, however, so long as people keep their beliefs to themselves and don't seek to control, influence or assume superiority over others I don't think it's a problem. Unfortunately that isn't what happens, and there's your risk."

Smokey
I suspect that most individuals who believe in a God (the thread topic) do keep their religious belief to themselves, as do most individual Athiests. As to organized religion (not the thread topic), there lies the risk, but I suspect it is mostly limited to those (who claim to speak for others) at the extreme end.