The difficulty is that man, for most of his existence, has not understood the world he lives in and been unable to negotiate with reality in terms that make sense. Religion has gained control of people by claming to be in touch with reality. That is an invisible reality that cannot be understood without holy books, which to be holy need the endorsement of those in power. For example the Bible may not have survived without the help of the Roman Catholic Church.
People now days have access to facts about the nature of our world and universe that did not exist before.
This changes enables people to be more objective in deciding what they accept. The problem is that without religion of belief we come face to face with the stark possibility that we as humans are responsible for our world and its future. The awesome responsibility of that is too much for many to bear. Religion allows them to pass that responsibility onto an invisible being.
This enables people to live their short lives, safe in the belief that all will be well and they don’t have to worry. It is a trade off - pay the premium and relax. This is why here has always been room for religion or mysticism and it is likely there always will be. The world may advance more quickly if it were devoid of all such buffers but a world without such an escape could prove to be too much for many people.
The danger of organised religion that teaches hatred of the infidel, is that it can become fanatical and threaten the very future of life on earth. That extreme possibility must not be confused with a peaceful personal faith.
I see both points of view and realise that the balance we have, although a long way from perfect, allows people with faith to sleep soundly at night. What is right for one person is unacceptable for another.
To keep a small window open to the possibility that experiences people have had that cause them to have faith, is wise and encourages tolerance and empathy.
What if…………………..?