The true power of religion is its abilities to affect people outside of that religion.

I heard that Socrates was influence by the Jewish sages of his time. He took their ideas (Proverbs is a wonderful book for life) and made these teachings into something more contemporary. Plato came after Socrates.

Western legal systems were influenced by Canicol law from the Catholic Church. Islam gave us the universities.

I used to be quite critical of religionists who were doing a rather poor job with their religion. Now I wonder what they would really be like if they didn't have any of that guidance.

But, of course, some religions are just plain whacko--and great fodder for atheists.