Or even the primary benefit. One of the big drawbacks of sentience is living with the knowledge that you and everyone you know and will soon be dead and forgotten. The belief that there is something more provides a lot of comfort to a lot of people. Even if it is false comfort I think taking it away would be beyond cruel. Would you tell a little girl who believes that she will see her mommy again in heaven that is all a lie? What good would that do anyone?

When you are still in your twenties it is easy to disregard such comfort but when you get my age and you can feel and see the winding down process taking place it is much easier to see the appeal of that comfort.

Religion does inspire charity and most churches are involved in some sort of outreach program. Churches also act as important form of social glue that brings people to together and helps them to form into mutually supporting groups. Members of churches often become a sort of extended family that can provide support and assistance in more personal and positive ways then any state sponsored program ever could.

I do think though that you are missing the point when you said that religion rewards good behavior with tickets to heaven. That isn’t really how it works. I don’t personally believe there is a god but I wish it were true and I still believe that if you look at what Jesus (he is the one I know best) actually said and try and live in the manner he proscribed you would do OK.