I think one thing being overlooked is that there is a cultural side to religion inaddition to the spiritual side.
I do not take communion anymore because I no longer believe in transubstantiation.
However, I lie to my young daughter (8) and try to raise her in accordance to the catechisms. Some day when she gets older she will be faced with the same realizations as many of us had to face. For now she is a child who still believes in magic.
"You were not there for the beginning. You will not be there for the end. Your knowledge of what is going on can only be superficial and relative" William S. Burroughs