A set of beliefs that many hold that comes in different forms. Many have similar values but different beliefs. Some believe that Jesus was the Messiah who saves your souls (Christians). Others believe you work off your bad deeds with good deeds, through
reincarnation (Karma, held by the Hindus). Some believe that holding to five pillars of
living will lead to Heaven (Islam). Note that none of those five pillars include murdering non-Muslims.
Religion may or may not be true; some believe that all are true, others that all are false. While extremists in the
religious systems and outside exist, most do not follow their teachings correctly, only using religion as an excuse to inflict their own ideas and power over people.
Atheism is a faith as well, to some degree; the system is that you believe in your own morals, which you derive from experience and science. The belief that life comes from non-life and that something comes from nothing (the Big-Bang) is often viewed as unlikely as religious miracles (The
Virgin Birth or the Ascention of Mohammed).
Atheism has killed dozens of millions of people in history.
Christianity has killed a few million. Islam has killed a few million. Hinduism a couple million.
All religion has blood on its hands, but their values are all against unjust war and political murder. All value
human life, all have a
golden rule. However, when it comes to salvation, there could not be a more stark contrast between the major faiths of the world, even those who have the same roots and background.