Religion can be a force for good in the world eg. Christian 'turn the other cheek'. However, evildoers will use religion or whatever get what they want. To blame religion itself is a bit simplistic. As far as I can see religion acts as the great pacifier enabling people to live more angst-driven existences. People experiencing more peace in their everyday lives is a positive. A world without religion's philosophical underpinnings would be unlikely to be a safer place.
Having said that, I'm a born-again atheist and feel that a good understanding of philosophy is the way to peace.
