Good OP, Punk
Do we have an inbuilt need to believe in something or someone? - yes, I think we probably do.
Greta and other people from the Thunberg Tendency believe in their own Armageddon (end of the world due to pollution), and salvation (if only people would listen to what they say and agree with them on everything, the world will be saved).
Another religion is belief in human rights. I was arguing/discussing with a woman on facebook about how best to deal with people smugglers, you know, those people who send migrants to their deaths in rubber dinghies. I suggested armed police or the army declare war on the smugglers and eliminate them. She had a bit of a meltdown, piously lecturing me that all human beings have human rights, including smugglers. Ridiculous. I said that I don't believe in human rights, and they don't exist. She literally said that she couldn't talk to me because of this, and called me disgusting. All because I challenged her religious beliefs (human rights).
Another religion in the UK is the NHS. The NHS worship was evident during the early months of the pandemic. Although many doctors and nurses work admirably, the truth is that it is a gigantic black hole that swallows billions of public money. The tories have given the NHS extra billions. Where does it all go? If you dare publically criticise the NHS, all sorts of crazy shit is assumed about you. The NHS shouldn't be beyond criticism.
Other new religions are trans rights and feminist ideology.