Prayers don't work so why do religious keep jabbing at it?

[Anomalocaris]

I think many people do it because they lack any other means to help the ones affected and feel the need to do so, whether it helps or not.
A few others do it to simply avoid the matter.

I would say those who pray the loudest does not do so simply to avoid the matter.

They can keep quite and avoid the matter.

Instead they pray loudly because they have the means, do not wish to contribute those means, but still wants to claim credit reward for helping.

It is not too harsh to say prayer is often a theft from those who really needs help.