Religion and Utopia

In everything we've read so far there is a mention of God and religion. Supposedly religion is one of the reasons that society works so well and the people are happy, historically thats not really the case. Probably the most well known case of religion creating chaos is the Crusades. They were started by a Catholic pope attempting to gain access to Jerusalem which is a very important religious city of a number of religions. Of course other religious groups weren't so happy and fought back. There were a total of nine different excursions in all that lead to countless deaths and untold damage. So how can religion be the driving force behind Utopia?

It is generally assumed that if you aren't religious or even just spiritual you have no morals, you have no  sense of right and wrong and will always do evil things and feel no remorse. Morals and a sense of right and wrong really have no connection to religion in my opinion. Morals are something you learn from your parents and your environment. I agree with Locke's statement that we are all born as clean slates and we are shaped throughout our lives.

Now I'm not totally discouraging the idea of religion creating peace and utopian living. You hear countless stories on the news of harden criminals who become reformed through finding God. It happens. Religion can be a positive force. I just don't think that religion alone can be that positive force. I know plenty of people that go to church everyday but once they leave there they don't "practice what they preach." 

Image source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOwWzXCx7dPVzHL-4UO0UFarB9UF2SIbe2NEtQWf35-CqDh5bScReahwx_yfsBrY0XEIBVrjXDGZ9TJrPwTOWF_5-mew8OzUjkT7_B0s1U2Az3vVlx7kvYUYbiTfkyS7yKR96bcs4RIQe0/s1600/Hqqa8Ax.jpg