This is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Religion is fascinating, if nothing else it tells you how people throughout history thought about the universe and their role in it.
I think he is making an obfuscated argument that since religion was a big force culturally and is interesting from a historical viewpoint, it should get some respect.
I'd find it very disturbing if someone started discussing their genitals over dinner, though, whilst a discussion about faith and religion can be interesting and fun.
I find it frustrating the religion has become such a taboo subject because few people decided to misinterpret it and use it for their selfish purposes.
Other than being fascinating in its own right. It can be a perfect antidote to our modern anxiety filled lives that we live in constant conflict both with ourselves and with the external world. We NEED religion now more than ever. We need religion that questions our view self [1], questions nature of our consciousness, questions nature of the world we live in [2]. I see it as a tool which lets us explore the things that are unsuitable for exploration through the scientific method.