But Is Religion Helpful?

We (should) all know by now that religion was devised centuries ago as a means for the ruling classes to take advantage of the ignorance and highly superstitious nature of the common folk and exercise control over them.
Nowadays, In a modern, civilised society we have secular governments and religious influence is virtually zero. Most of society is well educated and not prone to fears and superstitious thoughts.
We still have Churches, however, whose role hasn't really changed much from days of yore. And we still have those in society who are naive, gullible, weak and vulnerable who fall prey to religious institutions.

Of course, those on the other side of the reality fence will try to suggest that what Churches are really doing is "helping those in need".
This "new age" thinking falls in line with Christian Churches adopting a "charitable" image in a futile attempt at trying to shake off its abysmally poor record of human rights abuses and corruption.

For example, the Roman Catholic Church went to great lengths to place Mother Theresa on a pedestal as a shining example of someone who selflessly "helped" so many poor children in India.
In reality, Mother Theresa was known to be a sour, selfish who spent (donated) money on erecting houses of worship (some conveniently named "orphanages") with barely a penny to feed nor clothe the poor wretches. Of course, Head Office recognised her exemplary contribution to building the Roman Catholic empire and canonized her. For all the "help" the saintly one actually provided she should have been fired from a cannon.

So, Let's have a look at what the Church does to help the needy.
Those of an impressionable disposition will be invariably overrun with guilt and fear.
Whilst the Church may be compassionate and caring in helping its followers face and overcome their fears, what do they instil?
 *  Another set of fears into their hapless victims:
 *  The fear of God
 *  The fear (and hatred) of minority groups
 *  The fear of being separated from loved ones
 *  The fear of being sentenced to eternal damnation.

Only now: "Oh, these fears are okay to harbour and foster because the Bible says so".
A fine lot of help that is; replacing fears with even more anti-social fears and hatreds.