[danans]

> Religion has nothing to offer that secular society cannot offer.

Similar to ethnic nationalism, it can and throughout history has provided the glue that holds groups together when they are in conflicts with other groups.

Unlike a secular club, religion cements this power inter-generationally by insinuating itself into the key human institutions of marriage, reproduction, child rearing, and membership in the religion. If you look at any ethno-religious state in the world (i.e. many middle eastern countries), they function this way.

The experiment of a secular national identity (based on shared beliefs about people's rights and dignity) is the only institution that can effectively fulfill this aspect of religion, but as we are now seeing, it can also stumble if it doesn't tend to the needs of its constituents well enough.

[nonotreally]

I accept this.

But I don't actually see how that is different than religion. Religions have failed many times throughout history.

Modern society has been working well enough for a while now. How long do we have to do it before we can ditch these superstitions?

[danans]

Religion, tribe, and ethnicity are all backup plans for if/when the protections given by modern society fail.