This article is part of Eliezer’s anti-religion series, and all of these articles have the pre-written bottom line that religion is horribly evil and cannot possibly have any good effects whatsoever.
I think the rest of the series makes it pretty explicitly clear that Eliezer DOES think religion accomplishes the things you mention, and that there are important lessons we should learn from that.
I think the rest of the series makes it pretty explicitly clear that Eliezer DOES think religion accomplishes the things you mention, and that there are important lessons we should learn from that.