thopa, the discussion about the relation between religion and civilization can go both ways. While it certainly is true that most civilizations embrace religion as their core that holds them together, religion has not always been conducive to development. Religious beliefs, a lot of which were based on superstitions or past suppositions, hindered many radical theories. Galileo's theories about our solar system was not accepted at first because by religion, people believed that heavenly bodies were just that, heavenly bodies, perfect and unattainable. There are too many examples when religious beliefs have held back development. In fact, religion has adapted to civilization as the years have progressed. Do you think we would be considered hindus by the hindu saints of centuries ago?