The general answer seems to be that religions (just like “total” political parties) provide value for money, in particular a social environment. Friends, baby sitters, group activities, help when you lose a job or someone dies. I think academics, in particular, tend to be such loners, and to be content with such social support as is provided by the government, that they radically underestimate how hungry people are for this sort of social interaction.
The general answer seems to be that religions (just like “total” political parties) provide value for money, in particular a social environment. Friends, baby sitters, group activities, help when you lose a job or someone dies. I think academics, in particular, tend to be such loners, and to be content with such social support as is provided by the government, that they radically underestimate how hungry people are for this sort of social interaction.