Religion is the new/old networking tool. A holdover from when the church was the equivalent of government. Religion maintains itself as a branch of government throughout many aspects of world power. Best example is the Vatican.Any historian should see this connection.Why would there be any incentive to dismiss it when you could be hurt socially,politically and economically for doing so, yet there are very little negative consequences for maintaining faith? That same effect carries through all strata of politics and to a lesser degree the business world. The result, phony religious people in all places,political parties, and positions. Add to that the familial associations/pressures and the fact that most people, from any walk of life,are not independent thinker types and you have very little possibility that religion is going to be replaced soon. In fact after the republicans won the white house with a religious platform, it seems the self serving aspect of being religious has made further inroads against higher intelligence/wisdom and even morality.(All lies are immoral)
Best wishes