Religion is neither necessary nor sufficient to engender qualities of generosity, self-control, avoiding violence / advocating for peace, treating people well etc.

Those also aren’t the types of “beliefs” I’m talking about and you know it. I specifically mentioned magical thinking and in this context “belief” is not a reference to believing in being generous, but belief in the supernatural, god, spirits, etc … magical thinking. More to the point, believing in those, the books that espouse them, and expecting other’s around you to believe / act based on those same beliefs is my problem; doubly so when preached from my elected representatives.