From a historical viewpoint, religion is just a kind of superstition, and from a political viewpoint it is a tool of social control.

I believe that modern science supports free will, in showing that the brain can act spontaneously, not only in response to external stimuli.

Some of the big philosophical problems have been solved by science, at least to a 1st approximation. Examples: the problems of matter, and mind. Only philosophical reactionaries, like Noam Chomsky, claim that they are and will remain mysteries.

Most contemporary philosophers are conservative and eager to keep their jobs.

We deem valuable whatever is likely to meet our needs or wishes (individual values) and whatever is likely to help protect or attain social goals (social values). However, this is not a dichotomy, for some individual values, such as truth, are needed to secure some social values, such as mutual trust, and some social values, such as peace, are required to pursue some individual values, such as good health.

One should believe only what can be chosen to be true or just. Irrational (or unjustified) beliefs should be avoided because they can have disastrous practical consequences.

It occurred to me that I had the duty to give society something in exchange for the free education I was getting.