I don't think so. There exists a basic humanity that is based upon cooperation. That is why our species has been so succesful

I can't say I'm anti-, as I do attend a campus and a member of the Unitarian Universalist denomination (://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-believe/beliefs/atheist-agnostic). I go for the camaraderie and the networking. U.U.s are generally atheists/Humanists, and yes, there are Christians, but they tend to be more spiritual or even Humanist. Your comment:

Personally, I am an Atheist but I do agree that is necessary for certain people.

I have to agree to a degree, as our denomination does not scare the Hell out of people, but it teaches love. We have seven principles but not commandments which we follow because we want to do so. They are: [uua.org]

1st Principle: The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
2nd Principle: Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
3rd Principle: Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
4th Principle: A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
5th Principle: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
6th Principle: The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
7th Principle: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

Are we required to believe in these? Not really. Yet it helps guide us through a path that supports the folks throughout their life. This is truly helpful as folks who are angry, can find love along the way. There is no Hell (or Heaven), and when we pass on, our earth will become star dust as our sun turns into a red dwarf, but the fact that we are gone, only means that we are one at the end.

I believe (if used properly) can be helpful.

I chose no because those same people use religion as their catalyst and more people use religion now as a means to degrade and hurt others. I see no benefit at all in religion. We have laws to keep those people in check that you're talking about. I think no religion at all would be better.

I have no doubt that some believers truly think they would become depraved animals without the imagined sanctifying influence of god in their lives, but in reality, let's face it, any good they are doing currently isn't because of god, so they're already being good little boys and girls all on their own.

People struggle with impulse control for various reasons and maybe for some few, the removal of the imposed rule-set of religion and ostracism and rejection by the only social group they know, would be the straw that breaks the camel's back, opening floodgates of Hannibal Lecter-like behavior. But I think that 99.999% of the time that's just an irrational fear, not a reality.

When I left the faith my general moral convictions changed not a whit. I was still serially monogamous, loyal to a fault, paid my bills and my taxes without fail, worked hard, was on time, kept up appearances, was friendly and dependable and so forth.

Some minor things shifted, things I already knew in my heart weren't important. For example, I lived with my current wife for several years before we were actually married, but then even as an evangelical I didn't think a civil recognition of my relationship had some kind of magic pixie dust associated with it. As an evangelical, I was more concerned about being judged by others and possibly by god than I now am, but the point is that I was still loving and faithful to my wife, even if she wasn't "officially" my wife. I let it slide because she was somewhat withheld and had irrational ideas that making it official would jinx the relationship or make it harder to get out of if it went bad (when, ironically, it's actually easier to terminate a formal agreement than an informal one, and the emotional toll is identical). When she finally decided she wanted to make it official it was almost anti-climactic, I had resigned myself to our existing arrangement years before.

Now a fundie would potentially (likely) take the notion of "living in sin" as proof that my moral compass died when my faith did, but I'd submit that I never needed my marriages solemnized for me to feel honor-bound to the relationship -- so it's just one more thing that didn't change between me being a Christian, and not being one. But this is the thing about fundamentalism: it's not about DOING what's right; it's about BEING right. A fundamentalist can treat his wife like crap, cheat on her so long as he doesn't get caught, make her cry every day of her life and so long as they are married he's not "living in sin". You tell ME which is the less harmful route to go.

The dumb
The ignorant
The followers
The 'sad'
So many are NOT ready to be their own human....and they need something.

I think what such persons need is some kind of structure in their lives. Religion can fulfill that for some people, but it is not the only thing that can do so.

I think you nailed it when you said some people need to be manipulated/brainwashed into being functioning citizens. There are so many hate filled/paranoid people in my area that I often feel that religion is the only restraint keeping them from utter anarchy; its the only thing that keeps them behaving in a civil fashion to their fellowman.

Those people seem to be fearful anyway, so l doubt they would have the balls to do anything really bad. MHO