Explain Lowell's statement that skeptics are dependent upon the religion which they discard for every privilege they enjoy

Where a decent man can live in comfort and security, supporting and educating his children unspoiled and unpolluted; a place where age is reverenced, infancy respected, manhood respected, womanhood honored, and human life held in due regard, is where a man wants to be, but isn't considered famously wealthy.

James Russell Lowell was an American Romantic poet born on February 22, 1819. He was among the first American poets who rivaled the British poets.

He wrote an article "The nation and the gospel". America is a Christian Nation but many deny the religion and deny the fact that Christianity has made a positive effect and directed the nation.

Lowell wrote this article telling about the importance of scriptures on which the laws of the nation has been laid. He tells that having no religion at all is the worst kind of religion

"Some gentlemen tell us very complacently that they do not need religion; they can get along well enough without it. Let us tell you, my friends, the worst kind of religion is no religion at all ... " as it is through the Gospel of Christ their lives are better.

He calls such person skeptics those who don't believe in religion because the privilege they are enjoying is all because of the religion that their fathers believed.

"skeptics are dependent upon the religion which they discard for every privilege they enjoy ..."