I've been part of a small church community for over a decade, and I'm questioning whether religion is actually necessary for leading a moral life. My non-religious friends seem just as kind and principled, often more so, without any fear of divine punishment or hope of heavenly reward. But I've also seen how faith gives people purpose and resilience in hard times, which is hard to replicate with pure secular humanism. Does being a good person really require a religious foundation, or is that just a comforting story we tell ourselves?