The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike. Any belief in Absolutes, whether the absolute validity of moral commandments, of authority of revelation, of inner certitudes, or of divine inspiration, erects a formidable barrier against progress and the responsibility of improvement, moral, rational, and religious. To assert that the earth revolves around the sun is as erroneous as to claim that Jesus was not born of a virgin. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. Religion is a terrific meme.
Smallpox virus is a terrific virus.
It does its job magnificently well. That doesn't mean that it's a good thing. It doesn't mean that I don't want to see it stamped out. The first requisite for the happiness of the people is the abolition of religion. The church lives on the fact that modern research about Jesus is not known amongst the public.