Why is Religion such a big deal?

[ApeNotKillApe]

Religion is a tool. Many people are in powerful positions mainly because of religious practices. Powerful people love the status quo, and they're not going to give up that power without a fight. So they keep preaching hellfire, and killing apostates, and such.

From what I've heard, religion at large is on its way out in more modern countries, so in a way it isn't such a big deal anymore.

But why do everyday people care?

Psychological conditioning coupled with numerous social pressures: group mentality, peer pressure, lack of information, abundance of disinformation, the snowball effect of low info/easy gratification ideologies, personal predisposition towards religious mindset, cultural position, etc.