sweetgrass4 hours ago - I think people need religion because of fear. Fear of death and what will happen at death if they have been good or bad. People say it gives them hope but is this not born too out of fear of not seeing dead loved ones again, or having a better life in the afterlife? If they don't accept religion they fear they might miss out?
Yes you're right fear of death and wondering about life after death has conned people into joining religions to book their place. Nobody knows for sure if there's anything after death but if, for example, consciousness has evolved to continue, then religion and God have nothing to do with it and uselessly appeasing a deity has held people captive to religions for millennia.
I also think people seek meaning in life and helping others and trying to make a difference in the world can give meaning but as you say why in this century do we need religion for that? Plenty of secular organisations are digging wells, giving aid in war zones and helping people work their way out of poverty etc,. Why join religions for that when we simply need to set up a direct debit or volunteer our time? More productive than getting up early on Sunday and begging a nonexistent being to help the world.