Miss Babybird, what a beautiful thread.
I, also, strongly believe that religion matters.
It does seem, at least to me, that those strongest in their faith (I can speak only of Christianity here, as I lack in-depth knowledge of/experience with other religions) are generally full of joy, unafraid of the world, see the beauty in all people, are quick to forgive, and have hope for the future -- even as they themselves endure suffering. These are pretty powerful testaments in favor of faithfulness.