Freedman quoted Greg M. Epstein, humanist chaplain at Harvard, who said, “What religion has to offer people at moments like this—more than theology, more than divine presence—is community. And we need to provide an alternative form of community . . . for the increasing number of people who say they are not believers.” In short, Epstein was saying that religion doesn’t offer sufferers much more than loving, supportive relationships, and that is what secular people must be able to offer as well. But our survey of cultures and history has shown that this is not true.
