What is the function of religion?

[Angrboda]

(2) Should someone who does not believe in the truth claims of organized religions (atheists in particular) change his/her view towards religion if it is accpeted that religion actually has beneficial function for a society that our secular age is in danger of destroying?

This has many of the same problems as Pascal's wager; even if there were benefits to believing, it's near impossible to make yourself believe in something solely for the potential benefits of doing so, independent of whether it's true or not. Moreover, I suspect that much of the power of traditional religions to transform people depends on them not knowing how and why it is effective; I suspect if you were consciously aware of what is causing these effects, the effects themselves might disappear.