Partly due to history, I guess, in addition to other things catracho said. While I don't think highly of religious beliefs, I also don't think those who hold them are stupid, gullible, etc., at least not more so than I. That's why I didn't respond to colton's post that finding his part may or may not have been the result of prayer, but he chose to believe it was. That's as strong a point as I'm likely to make on the topic. I would object if he had said it was definitely the result of prayer.
Another thing is that I have said in the past the world would not be better off without religion. Faithful, fanatical followers would just find non-religius things to faithfully follow fanatically. Wars would still arise. People would still hate. Religion is like Silly Putty; it takes the shape and reflects the picture of whatever the holder does with it.
