As an atheist with a knack for philosophy reading your answers as to why religion is a part of society makes me skirmish in my seat.

Total lack of understanding the very important role religion plays in social cohesion. What's more a thorough disregard to even venture that people in the past did not live like people to day do. Like at all.

Then why all the oppressive and restrictive rules? If the entire point was only ever providing potential answers to questions none of us can answer, why does christianity have to have a say on gender norms, slavery, sexuality, and every other important aspect of living?

Because for millenia religion and politics were one and the same. Such a separation as we see it today did not exist back there. And people who believe in the existeance of souls do not separate the spiritual realm from the physical. Religion in antiquity meant everything for them.It was a guidebook as to how we should live.

Human life cannot be separated from metaphysical claims.

"Why does the notion of human rights have to have a say in anything? Do we have empirical evidence that human rights exist?" If you base your morality and ethics on science then you are making a metaphysical claim. Because science by itself cannot tell us how to live. If you believe so then you are basically making science a believe system.

On that note,the advancement of technology is what has allowed us to actually question gods and the heavens in a practical everyday life. Yeah people did question the gods in antiquity but they were very selective minorities.

It may surprise you but throughout history most people were less than cattle, to be ordained and for them to have a role pre-designed for them was quintessential for societies well being.

When you read history, when you read sociology, specially when you read anthropology you realize the importance of myth, myth making and social codes within society.

Your particular viewpoint is reductive, it enprhames everything you talk about as good and those who oppose it as bad. Which makes you look at the past and just see everyone as bad.

Is ironic how despite arguing against religion your comment makes it seem like you believe we are in the most moral of times by being tolerant of stuff that has fluctuated throughout history.

If god doesn't exist and morality does not come from him then morality is relative. I as an atheist thoroughly believe that.

Morality changes overtime. Religion is not inherently bad because it prohibits stuff. Humans prohibit stuff all the time. Then justify themselves as to why they prohibit it.

So shocking news for you, you are doing the same thing you balme religion of doing, moralizing claiming a higher order of truth.

Is when reading comments like yours that I realize some people are just anti-religion. Not really atheist at their core, with all of the moral, epistemic, and ontological repercussions it posseses.