Saying 'Merry Christmas' is an empty platitude. You said it so you can feel better about yourself (and your beliefs), not so you could actually wish me a good holiday.
More to the point, you largely ignored my post, which was a direct response to the flaws of your post. If you came here for a discussion, you're not doing so in good faith. I've been honest, sincere, and given you nothing but the most neutral responses I can, intentionally avoiding posting inflammatory comments that don't add anything to the discussion. I'm trying to help you gain a better understanding of the world you live in, not call you names or incite anger.
Pretty sure religion has always been around. Ever since people became self aware, they've always held some superstitious beliefs about the world they live in. Where else do you think these beliefs came from? Religion most likely started out as a common understanding of something existing beyond oneself, beyond the collective of people, and then evolved to incorporate every environmental phenomena not easily explainable by conventional wisdom at the time. Thunderstorms became angry gods. Earthquakes became vengeful spirits. Disease was the mark left by gods on the unfaithful.
Practically every person who lived that long ago was easily confused into religious belief as an explanation of the world they found themselves in. It's only been a very select few important people in recent history who have dared to shun religion, instead opting to bring about a different sort of enlightenment to humanity.
