I would argue that some religions are better than others, that some faiths are too dangerous to be embraced, that being concerned about the longterm, broad consequences of the assumptions of faith is part of our responsibility as human beings, and an essential element in building a life of integrity. They encourage exclusiveness, and the feeling of being especially privileged. Other beliefs are expansive and lead the way into wider and deeper sympathies. Some beliefs are divisive, separating the saved from the unsaved, friends from enemies. Other beliefs are bonds in a universal community where sincere differences beautify the pattern.
Some beliefs weaken a person's self hood.
They blight the growth of resourcefulness. Other beliefs nurture self confidence and enrich the feeling of personal worth. Some beliefs are rigid, like the body of death, impotent in a changing world. Other beliefs are pliable, like the young sapling, ever growing with the upward thrust of life. My observations suggest that the drive to feed the empty soul will be with us for some time, as we weigh the significance of the failure of consumerism to satisfy.