He was saying that people need someone to tell them on Sunday that working until you die for nothing is fine because it'll all be great after you die. He made a strong argument for religion just being another capitalist tool that keeps the people in line, doped up just enough to work another week. Sure, if opiate addiction in response to abuse is human, then that's pretty damn human.

He even argued that religion mirrors the hierarchical structures of the government it exists under, which is pretty spot on.

I never took his writing to be pro-religion.

life has always been inhuman. religion has been around forever, so has oppression, violence, and hate.

and we are still inventing new ways to hate, oppress, and do violence to each other over perceived differences. yay social media!