What impact do you think world religions have on people and societies today?

Postive effects could be that it brings people together, gives them a community for supporting each other, focuses their attention on God. It provides a moral framework, comfort for those in need, the promise of an afterlife ... and so on.

Negative effects are that the different religions can be seen to inspire conflict in the world, some might say that they focus people too much on religious things rather than on day to day things (so you lose the plot basically!).