Please never ever say religion fills a need. It fills a want. No part of being human needs religion any more than they need crack cocaine. Id argue the effects are similar on the brain as well.
Are you saying that purpose, social cohesion and rituals are not human needs? If so, I have 7 billion pieces of evidence against you - and that's just the live ones.
The point of my comment is that this need can be filled by something other than religion. But science ain't it.
There is no need.
I said that human beings requires those things, and that religion is effective at fulfilling those requirements. I explicitly made the point that something else could be fulfilling those needs better than religion can. However, I do not think that that thing is science - at least not in its current form.
Blind atheism is just as bad, if not worse, than organized theism.
The problems start when people think they know something and they really don't.
(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/placebo?s=t)
1. med control group See also placebo effect an inactive substance or other sham form of therapy administered to a patient usually to compare its effects with those of a real drug or treatment, but sometimes for the psychological benefit to the patient through his believing he is receiving treatment
Emphasis mine.
You seem to have an axe to grind on this subject, like some of the more hardcore atheists. The deep irony of that is that you believe with fervour and passion and faith that people who believe with fervour and passion and faith are stupid. Epic fail.
Develop a critical thinking habit, not a reflexive opposition habit. Your life will be better for it.