Is the West more advanced directly because we scaled back the influence of organized religion?

in part .......yes..............

Yes and yes.

Actually its even worse than you question implies. Today almost all conflict is fueled by Jihad. Unfortunately, ever since the advent of Islam, this bloody religion has always been at war. In the words of Winston Churchill, Islam is a "retrograde" force that continues, to this day, to suppress innovation, progress and humanity itself.

Yes, I believe you are correct. Islam in the Middle East is a huge neck-chain for them. Just look at how advanced Israel is in comparison. And, boy, don't those Muslims hate to see the green fields in the Negev.

No, the West is so advanced becasue of Christianity.

Christianity, unlike atheism and certain other religions, does not believe any occurance is accidental. Everthing that has a beginning has a cause. That is the basis of modern science.

Atheists reject the principle of causality and claim the universe is an accident that produced itself out of absolute nothing without a cause in violation of the laws of thermodynamics.

Clearly modern science could not have arisen from an atheistic world view.

go visit Dubai and Abu Darbi, then tell me the Middle East is barbaric.

Yes.

No, because we are blessed by God. Israel is more advanced than us and they haven't scaled back religion.

Don't forget east Asia. Their religious beliefs were more philosophy than anything, and they're more advanced than we are.

the reason the west is more advanced is because it chose the right religion. CHRISTIANITY

god blesses us because we love him

you really don't know how the world works do you...

no religion has not be scaled back