A world without religion is most likely, completely impossible. Even scientists believe they have found reason to believe our brains (on average of course), through our genetic code, are wired to tend towards a belief in a higher power.
The bigger reason is that humans always need something to fight about anyway. The tribalism which is also embedded in our very nature, most easily comes out through religion. So even if we could wave a magic wand, and have it erased from our minds tomorrow, I think we would reinvent it the very next day to support our tribalism and differing values.
While I think we have evolved socially as a species and are, ever so slowly, becoming less violent towards each other, a world without violence is a long ways away and probably just as unlikely as a world without religion.
However, I do think there is something to be said about taking as much emphasis off religion as possible in a forward thinking society. Things like separating church and state. Something the US says it does, but very obviously doesn't. Morals and societal rules and perhaps most importantly, foreign policy, should have nothing to do with ancient myths. We will most likely benefit more greatly from a society that uses science and reason to create and continually change it's rules and even values. Cause as society changes, so should it's values. For instance, not eating pork may have made good sense 5000 years ago, but really doesn't have much to do with today's age. Swine flu jokes aside.
One doesn't have to look very far to see societies and leaders that USE religion for their own gain. And that's where it all goes haywire of course. From muslim fundamentalists half a world away to christian fundamentalists right here. The really sad thing is that often it seems that these people KNOW they are just using or hiding behind religion, but are doing it anyway.
That is why it is an important discussion, and why atheists, agnostics, and more secular believers need to speak out against the evils of religion. Or put better, the evils in using religion for anything other than defining your own spot in the universe.
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