when I studied Comparative Religion in the late 1960s and early 1970s I realized that most religions are about human survival

What I mean by this is that if you analyze a lot of what is said in various religions it is a way to eat, and to survive better in whatever part of the world that religion started.

However, it's also true that that part of that religion might only be useful for that part of the world where it started and not in other climates.

But, in essence religions often are a codified way of enforcing habits that keep a tribe or family together and helping each other from birth to death multi-generational way.

This doesn't mean ANY religion is perfect but for that matter science as it is presently practiced is not perfect either.

I found that religious training when I looked back on it as an adult gave me culture and taught me self discipline. The same methodologies I learned in religious training helped me become self disciplined in the world.

So, even though I eventually chose not to be a member of any church by my late 20s and early 30s, Still what I learned in my religious education helped me a lot and grounded my thinking in seeing all life as Sacred.

I think teaching a child that all life is sacred might be the single most important thing you ever teach a child.

Why?

Because if a child doesn't believe all life is sacred what is to stop that child from killing and maiming others or themselves or blowing up the world so earth is gone?

You might think this is extreme but why do you think young men are becoming suicidal-homicidal serial killers.

If they believed all life is sacred including their own I don't think they would be killing everyone like they presently are almost every day or week of the year now in the U.S.