It's not God, it's the idea of religion. There's nothing wrong with faith, in the same way that there's nothing wrong in drinking coca-cola. Rather it is the way that religions are organised, and their ultimate purpose in societal control that is the problem. We all exert our own influence on the world, but to do this in such an ordered, hierarchical, controlling way is the realm of religions, governments and multinational corporations. The thing is no government or multinational corporation exerts its influence to so many people. Although, I'm sure the US government is envious of the Roman Catholic Church and Islam in this regard. Religion is a very bad idea.

Did you see the introduction of the new pope (or Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church as he prefers to be known) to the crowds in St Peters Square? - what a gig that would have been.

Anagram of Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church: 'Hereof Circumvent Unfaithful Shoppers'.

A cult is a religion with no political power. Tom Wolfe (1931 - )

With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion. Steven Weinberg, quoted in The New York Times, April 20, 1999 US physicist (1933 - )

In religion and politics, people's beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second hand, and without examination. Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)

Acceptance without proof is the fundamental characteristic of Western religion, rejection without proof is the fundamental characteristic of Western science. Gary Zukav, "The Dancing Wu Li Masters"

Such evil deeds could religion prompt. Lucretius (96 BC - 55 BC), De Rerum Natura

Religion is the opiate of the masses. Karl Marx (1818 - 1883), Urban Dictionary, under "Religion."

In Christianity neither morality nor religion come into contact with reality at any point. Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 - 1900), The Antichrist, section 16

Religion is the masterpiece of the art of animal training, for it trains people as to how they shall think. Arthur Shopenhauer

History does not record anywhere at any time a religion that has any rational basis. Religion is a crutch for people not strong enough to stand up to the unknown without help. But, like dandruff, most people do have a religion and spend time and money on it and seem to derive considerable pleasure from fiddling with it. Robert Heinlein (1907 - 1988), Time Enough for Love (1972)

There is not enough religion in the world to destroy the world's religions. Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 - 1900)

The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion. George Washington (1732 - 1799)