Many members in my immediate family are religious. Most of them are of the Christian faith, while a very small number are Jehovah's Witnesses. After speaking with these persons about their unique past deeds, experiences and struggles, I came to know that each one of them used religion as a potent tool to help them through a number of demanding challenges in their lives. Some of them used their religion to ease the burden brought on by a chaotic and abusive household, while others utilized their new-found dependence on God to lift them from a life ruled by crime. I guess you could say it was a coping mechanism--something the human mind can use to make life emotionally and psychologically bearable.

This positive use of religion is hardly unique; history is plentiful with examples related to those I've listed and more, which is why I cannot exactly bring religion under heavy fire, nor pass it up as meaningless nonsense that is destined to be replaced by science. 

However, this does not mean it is free from criticism, for while I adore religion for what good it has done for us as a species, I absolutely abhor it for the suffering and calamity it has caused for others that choose to (or to not) subscribe to its teachings. Things like the blatant disregard for supposed 'cursed' or 'tainted' peoples (such as homosexuals, transgender persons or even those of different racial backgrounds), or the wars brought on by religion's dogmatic teachings and incorrect accusations of another group (the numerous holy wars scattered throughout history, like the Crusades for example).