Some atheists and agnostics don't mind Christianity. They find ways to interpret the religion without belief in any spiritual aspects of the religion. Hence the following arguments.
"Religion is a great piece of social engineering, a glue, that holds society together."
I guess even you can imagine what it would be like if there were no religions. People would be running around looting and mugging like crazy, because there'd be no moral standards.
Of course, that happens anyways, but not to such an extreme extent. But then also, religion causes wars and stuff. So I don't know how you could have a double standard like that, saying both that religion causes wars and that it holds society together. That's two different arguments. I think you probably think that Jesus was a regular human being who taught human beings to love and respect each other as human beings. But I can't imagine why you would give Jesus any respect or call him good or a good moral teacher. As an atheist, wouldn't you think more of a person who respects and shows reverence to all religious beliefs and doesn't condemn anyone? According to your beliefs, wouldn't that show more love and respect? Someone who doesn't make waves or preach `intolerance?' In your perspective, wouldn't that mean more peace? If this is so, how can you even consider the idea that Jesus is a good moral teacher of any sort? Clearly, he's either the son of God, or a teacher of amoral behavior(according to atheist sensibilities). But I follow Jesus as the son of God, as the ONLY way, truth and life. Following Jesus, I accept his doctrine of `intolerance,' asserting the rightness of his words and forsaking all others. (His words include the Torah, so this is the only other thing I do not forsake). Because of this, I have gotten chewed out by atheist `furs' at the kcfur group. Numerous times. Because I do not accept their doctrine of tolerance, I left them. Christmas was the most offensive time at the group, and I was criticized for what I wrote. I'm sure the good moral teacher that kcfur believes in would think of me as wrong minded and rude for stating what I believe, but I'm just following Jesus. The fact that you don't get all ticked off like those people at kcfur is amazing and baffling. I always thought that you would ascribe to the idea of "peace" that countless fur groups ascribe to-don't make waves by discussing politics or religion, except in those cases in which the religion is not Christian(in which case it would be okay according to their standards).
"Obviously, believing some myth holds societies together, but the particular myth isnt very important."
Oh really? So you wouldn't mind it if we had mound temples and Aztecs offering human sacrifices to the sun god? My point is: what do you define as `held together'? What is the difference between your concept of `held together' and institutionalized anarchy?
"Even though it's not true, religion is still good for advice."
You certainly must agree that not all religions are good for advice, or else you'd be engaging in some medically unsafe pygmy blood rituals. Even at the level of general religion, your point makes no sense. God is good for advice. While I'm glad you're getting something out of it, religion is more than just good advice. It's a matter of life and death, and if you were so heartily endorsing the `advice' of Christianity, you'd think nothing of preaching God's word in foreign countries where they cut off your head for your religious beliefs. Christianity gives that advice, after all.