What human purpose does religion fill?

[robvalue]

You're welcome I call the beliefs stupid, because in the cold light of day they are nonsensical to me, but I don't think people are stupid for believing them.

I have a lot of sympathy, I view the indoctrinated person as a victim. I've not been through religious programming myself, but I have suffered a similar kind of psychological abuse which implanted false statements in my mind as true. It's taken a long time to fight these including much therapy, and my mind naturally throws up the same kind of mental defences, to try and hold onto these implanted beliefs. Although I now "know" these beliefs aren't true, they still affect me and I have to actively keep them in their place. So I'm aware of the sheer power of indoctrination.

Challenging deeply held beliefs is uncomfortable, and it's always easier to fudge the issues and hold onto them than risk uprooting things and having your world turned upside down.