True....but societies with great numbers have never ever been capable of great freedom, creativity and productiveness and fairness under any paradigm but the Christian one. No other gives dignity and worth to every single human being.
That being said.....why destroy the Christian ethic when no other ideology gives such freedom and fairness? None. Atheism ends in totalitarianism and destruction of freedom and morality. Evil always gets rewarded and goodness gets punished and taxed (and eliminated).
Objective Truth is necessary for Just Law. You can never have it in a moral relativist society (one with no Revelation and Objective Truth) which are all cultures and religions not based on Natural Law Theory (like Christianity) and the basis of the US Constitution. The Christian paradigm dominated America and was the reason underlying the success of the Capitalistic country. Morality has to be a part of Capitalism.
Socialism destroys freedom and responsibility and T. Dalrymple explains the destruction of cultures which destroys the family and Christianity. Welfare state always destroys the family and faith.
1 - how about the Jewish "paradigm"?
2 - I do agree with you that societies with Christian underpinnings do well by human freedom and dignity. But only for the last three hundred years. It took a good sized side order of Enlightenment philosophy added into the mix to activate that "freedom, creativity and fairness".
3 - Your rationale for Christianity is a pragmatic one. "It produces a better society". I can accept that premise and agree with it while still having no personal acceptance of the supernatural in any way.