Secularism

Hi all,

Last week, we decided to pick secularism as this week's topic. My question is:

What is the origin of various religions? What did they mean when they were formed? Have they changed – evolved/devolved over the period of time? Was various rituals part of the religion on day one? Does religion (and rituals) really mean anything in today’s world?

Here are few links:
Definition:

http://atheism.about.com/library/FAQs/religion/blrel_def.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A19645167

Origin and development:

http://www.allaboutreligion.org/origin-of-religion.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionary_origins_of_religion

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prehistoric_religion

http://www.acampbell.ukfsn.org/essays/skeptic/narrative.html

http://www.religioustolerance.org/rel_theory1.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionary_psychology_of_religion

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_and_mythology

Religious Vs Non religious belief systems:

http://atheism.about.com/library/FAQs/religion/blrel_beliefs.htm

Pls read thru the various related pages on wiki...

More links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cradle_of_civilization

limited preview book:
http://books.google.com/books?id=evOZEWralVMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=cradle+of+civilization&sig=ACfU3U323ypZZ6a4YoQckzymyYzBjRTThQ#PPP1,M1