I think Christianity is special in this regard. Buddhists, for instance, say that if you see Buddha on the road, you should kill him. What matters to Buddhists are the effects of their therapy, not the legends of what the Buddha supposedly said and did. Hindus, too, are far more sophisticated about the difference between taking symbols literally and metaphorically. Most Jews understand that their biblical "history" is legendary at best. But Christians are unique in emphasizing the historicity of their founding narrative. As Paul said, if Jesus didn't rise from the dead, the Christian faith is in vain.

I agree, though, that there's a difference in all religions between the naivety of the laypeople and the sophistication of the intellectual officials.