Relgion and its impact on humanity

 

Why is religion still so widespread and pervasive in todays world?

I am not a scholar in religion or anything for that matter. Just an average ordinary man who earned by coding and now with enough time to relax and contemplate on the bigger questions of the Universe. So, whatever I say, opinionate or argue below are just from my experience and readings. Take it as you wish.

One of the biggest questions or enigma rather, maybe after the: What is the meaning of life?, is Religion. My science and fact based logical rational thought process can see why it started 10s of 1000s of years ago probably as soon as Humans evolved enough to think and try to understand the world around them. Obviously then and even now, many are difficult to understand and many we have no idea how or what. Yet. That probably resulted in creating religion in its various forms. An easy way out. After all, once you conjure up or imagine an super being who sees all, can do all, and knows all.... then everything can be explained, no? Of course. In my opinion, this is true for ALL religions. No exceptions. 

But... over the last few thousand or so years, Humans have progressed significantly. We know many things now. How they work. How we can modify them to help us. What they are. We theorize. Design experiments. Prove them. And can clearly explain it all. With logical reasoning. But in spite of this progress, there has been no proof in the existence of any super being that oversees us all. That still remains the faith realm. With no proof whatsoever. 

I feel... many proponents of religions... truly believe in it and are true. But there are many who are well aware its not true... but use it to their advantage and gains. Power and Greed. On the same note... there are many who follow because they truly believe. And there are many who follow because they are insecure scared or under peer pressure in their community.

To answer the question I posed above... why?