Bonnie Erbe of the Chicago Sun-Times makes the argument that religion offers useful structure.
Observing the GOP presidential primary, Erbe contrasts religion in American and Europe. She notes that Europe is not zealous in their belief or non-belief, that they recognize religion sates certain basic human cravings. Referencing a Financial Times of London review of three books, she uses the three views - of the importance of religion, the illogical nature of religion, and a middle ground - to lead back to the GOP debates that show the candidates each in turn trying to prove their religious fervor. To think of them even suggesting G-d doesn't exist would be, well, sacrilegious: Erbe points out that in America atheism is frowned upon. She wonders at the way 90% of polled people in the US claim to believe in G-d while many don't regularly attend services and makes the conclusion that even anonymously Americans are afraid to be atheistic. Erbe believes religion answers unanswerable questions and provides a strong social structure, and that atheism could learn from this kind of structure and potentially provide a new climate for discussion.
Faith as a social and internal structure has basis in my life: whether I decide to stay Jewish (at this point I am pretty solid in my beliefs) or not, that I was brought up in an actively Jewish family has given me a rich heritage and has introduced me to some of the most important people in my life. American Jewish culture is unique, and because so many values are constant in most Jewish families in this country, I want to be Jewish because I find the community so welcoming and familiar. This concept of religion as a structural system can be related applied to religiously active countries - but I wonder if it excludes people of different religions. Having separate religious circles is relevant in most countries of the world - namely the struggle between the three monotheistic religions so characteristic of the Middle East.
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