text: You are a little hard on the religious.  While I agree with you mostly there are mitigating reasons for belief:\n\n1.  Humans are a tribal species with an instinctive need to follow.\n2.  Ignorant people, which describes humanity up until the last 100 years or so, will believe religious doctrine no matter how ridiculous.\n3.  Humans invent and believe in gods in a desperate attempt to have some control over Mother Nature.  \n\nThe reason churches hate secularism so much is it provides answers that work without religion.  Religion is dying and they know it.