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Even if every religion is based on a flawed idea, Christopher Hitchens argues they don’t all cause the same amount of damage — at least, not all at once. Some faiths are more dangerous depending on the era, the power they hold, and how strictly their doctrines are enforced.
The core problem, he says, is universal across belief systems — the claim to absolute truth without evidence, the demand for obedience, and the attempt to control behavior through fear or promised reward. Whether it comes from scripture, priest, or prophet, the pattern is identical.
But history shows that not all religions have been equally oppressive at the same time. A dominant church in one century might be brutal and authoritarian, while in another era it becomes mostly symbolic and harmless. The doctrine remains wrong — but the level of threat changes based on power, not truth.
So the real question is not which religion is right, but rather which one is currently doing the most damage?
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