“The main obstacles to happiness are, firstly, desire for recognition, rank, wealth, power and sex.  Second is fear of death.  Third is the fear of hell fire threatened by organised religion.”  Michel de Montaigne (1533—1592).

Montaigne was a fascinating man.  He espoused most of the views of Epicurus and did not like organised religion, but nevertheless believed atheists were the next best thing to the devil: he believed in God.  Well, there is not a lot of harm in picking bits out of any belief system that suits you.