The planet would be a better place without religion

I also concede some of my closing arguments in the last round were questionable. I will quickly refute both arguments concerning Cheondoism 2.8 million followers and Cao Dai 2-6 million followers I can do this simply by referring to just one of the sources I gave previously there are currently around 79 countries where being homosexual is illegal this effects some where in the region of 2.7 billion homosexual people living in these countries, being oppressed, for what in many cases is essentially thought crime. This number significantly eclipses the combined number of followers of both religions my opponent mentioned even without taking in to account the friends and families of the ostracised. I would add that as religion can not claim to have a monopoly on morality and no claim can be maid that the combined 4.8 to 10-.8 million people of these two faiths would suddenly lose their humanity and emotion as a result of losing their religion. When compared to what the people living in countries that ban homosexuality for religious reasons would gain, I feel any hypothetical benefit these two unusual religions provide is eclipsed. I would reiterate that I am aware of no other argument against homosexuality other than the religious one. As for the argument concerning the merits of choosing one religion over another to prevent it spreading, it is an interesting topic but as my proposal is that we are rid of all religion, this would cease to be an issue and is therefore a moot point. Finally my opponent States that I am postulating that the earth would be a better place without religion, I would argue that in the case of the example he used in North Korea this is precisely what he was doing himself and would also argue that as I have already provided sources that show a correlation between secularism and lower levels of crime, feel it is fair to say that religion can lay no claim to morality. The world would also be improved for the 2.7 billion homosexual people I mentioned previously " not to mention their friends and family" A large number of atheists and irreligious people worldwide (this number is unknown but is currently judged to be from 10-22% of the population however due to the taboo of "coming out" as an atheist is possibly much higher) Religious war would be a thing of the past and while other wars would still be fought no one could claim that they were fighting as it is "Gods will" Martyrdom would no longer exist in the Islamic sense. While there are no numbers available to my knowledge of the number of people worldwide who accept the creation myths as fact and remain wilfully ignorant of science as a result, in America this number is around 46% and this is a truly terrifying thought given the impact the U. S. has on the rest of the world, think how much money could be diverted to science if these people gave up their belief Tax exceptions alone in the Us are around 71 billion, world wide these figures are obscene. This I feel is the nail in the coffin for religion, I am happy to provide more sources but feel it is a fair statement to say the money spent on religion worldwide is in the trillions, this money could be used to feed, house and educate the world and if this can not be considered an improvement then what is? Sources: . https://en.m.wikipedia.org...... . http://www.theguardian.com...... . https://en.m.wikipedia.org......