Agree or disagree: Religion is an influence upon people's behavior?

Agree.

But the more important question is whether that influence is positive or negative.

I agree that it is an influence.

However, it is not the only influence, nor should it be.

I have noticed that active religious practice tends to emphasize traits already present, and that people tend to gravitate toward practices within their religion that make their lives or consciences easier. They justify their behavior with religious excuses.

That's not to say that religion is a bad influence, or that all actively religious people do this. There are those out there struggling to take personal responsibility for their ideas and actions. Properly applied, religion can help them do this.

But far too many people use it as an excuse.

Agree

Much less than people think.

Mostly religion is used to justify one's behavior after the fact. I see very little evidence that religious moral dictates have any effect on the important behaviors of persons, at least among Christians. I admit there's some impact on Muslims, but for Christianity and Judaism it seems to be mostly ritual and get-togethers.

Religion is an influence to control how people behave.

You can word this in several different ways but it boils down to a form of behavior and control. In my opinion it is a method to teach us how to behave properly.

Agree.

agree, but the influence is not linear:

a small amount of religious influence usually makes a person behave better.

a large amount of religious influence usually makes a person behave intolerably.

Agree-- but that doesn't mean I believe that religious people act in a more moral way than non-religious people.

Yes and no. LOL! Depends on the individual. I am currently in an argument with my atheist uncle right now, as I speak.

Both, actually. As it is convenient, people follow accordingly, or they do like that Bishop who beat up his wife, Juanita Bynum, in the Atlanta Airport.

Depends on the person.