"Phew, we finally got out of there. I'm really not used to staying in places where candles have to be lit even during the day," Erwin said as he heaved a sigh of relief, then turned to Onean as he asked, "What do you think?"

"As I'm sure you already know, religious authority often stands against the authority of a ruler, so from a young age, I've been taught to constantly be wary of religious uprisings," Onean said. "However, if you ask me whether religion is something that is necessary or not, I think the answer is yes."

"Why is that? Is it just because all the religions advocate for the existence of a so-called hell? But even so, there are still people committing sins and evil deeds every day, and I've never heard of any deity descending into the world, or performing any divine miracles to punish those who have sinned, so how are they supposed to redeem the people of the world?" Erwin asked.

"Encouraging people to do good deeds is always a good thing," Onean replied in a calm manner. "However, you're also correct in saying that the concepts of heaven and hell are often used by churches to manipulate their followers. As for heinous individuals who have no faith, religion has no effect on them. For those people, the law is a far more reliable way of enforcing justice and order. After...