I have a hypothesis of sorts, that the reason for such trains of thought is because of the validation of self one feels when others validate one's ideas or efforts. Human beings like being told they're right, or that they did good. It's the "I did good, right?" inquiry needing satisfaction. That question can be a persistent, niggling, and outright obnoxious sumbitch for anyone. Factor this in, too: The underlying desire involved with religion is that there is a reason and a point to our existence. We're a social species, which means we tend to be gregarious, and like in any other social mammal species, being the more acknowledged means to be the more successful in general, which improves the life of the successful individual in manners of comfort, socialization, mating, yadda yadda. We want to feel important. Seriously, there aren't a whole lot of people who are like "I work at McDonald's and DAMN do I feel like my life is terrific! It can't get any better!" We always strive for improvement. Then factor in our natural fear of death, and the fact humans are insatiably curious. And also factor in that we just hate being wrong [making admitting it a chore in itself]. So...yeah, I can see why the thread has gone where it's gone, definitely.
You gotta love human nature.
You gotta love human nature.
