Has no religion, in your estimation, ever offered anything of
constructive value to human life?
RAND
Qua religion, no—in the sense of blind belief, belief unsupported by, or
contrary to, the facts of reality and the conclusions of reason. Faith, as
such, is extremely detrimental to human life: it is the negation of reason. But
you must remember that religion is an early form of philosophy, that the first
attempts to explain the universe, to give a coherent frame of reference to
man’s life and a code of moral values, were made by religion, before men
graduated or developed enough to have philosophy. And, as philosophies, some
religions have very valuable moral points. They may have a good influence or
proper principles to inculcate, but in a very contradictory context and, on a
very—how should I say it?—dangerous or malevolent base: on the ground of
faith.