We can trade currency for goods and services because we agree to use the currency.

Yes. The value of money is real to us, even though it doesn’t have any intrinsic value

It’s like arguing that a pound of gold being worth more than a pound of dog shit is meaningless.

No. Gold has more intrinsic value than dog shit. It’s far more limited, one can’t simply print more of it. It’s shiny, so I can easily make jewelry to adorn myself. I could maybe make a weapon with which to defend myself from potential attackers, though there are better materials than that. It’s also useful in electronics, so I can trade it to electronics crafters in exchange for some of the electronics they craft.

The idea of a god has no power.

The idea of god has power in the same way that paper money has value. It drives many people to do many things, despite being intangible and unreal.

The idea did not create the universe, cannot perform miracles, cannot observe or act.

I never claimed that it did. I have claimed many times in this thread that I don’t think it did. I would like literally anyone to acknowledge that I’m not trying to argue that god exists. Please, someone, acknowledge that I am actually a damn atheist. Just respond this comment with “I’m actually reading your comments and processing them, even if I disagree with what you’re saying.”

God is as real as the number four; it’s an idea that may have utility, but lacks any power in and of itself.

Yes. That’s essentially what the article we’re discussing says. Nobody has tried to insinuate that god is physically real, only that the concept is really a concept, which has an impact on the people who believe it. I want to be clear here. I’m not saying there is a god consciously affecting those who believe in it. I’m saying that for those who believe in it, that belief has a real effect on them.