No doubt religion control the minds, however, it do teaches the
good and humanity, I think even if we do not believe or choose not
to believe, we still need to appreciate, respect and accept the
good that it teaches.
Human in our animal state is named as the Homo Saipen, we are
consider the most smart animal in this planet, most wild, cunning
and cruel and also have a never satisfied or contended mind.
Therefore religion of different sect had in a way found it way
to calm one mind or soul, nevermind if there is god or no god, hell
or no hell, heaven or no heaven, the key is it help to civilise the
Homo Saipen. Human in a nutshell needs leader, like animal
instinct, we migrate, we form group, we challenge for territories,
we protect our own, and we attack when get agitated.
Most ancient rulers understood the significant of religion in
calming the human soul, same goes to LKY, he
understood that religion existence is critical for culture, human
needs and belonging, therefore he allow an open society of believe,
but whatever you believe, do not go to the extreme and become an
extremist, seek only the middle way