I've written hundreds of articles on religion and secularism (see the lists below).

The answer to your main question is pretty clear to me, following as it does from recent cognitive science. Our species isn't as rational as we might like to think. In fact, our primary mode of thinking is intuitive, emotional, and holistic, which is why we prefer to consume fictional stories in all their forms, rather than strictly logical arguments or scientific explanations. Religions exploit that evolved cognitive weakness of human minds.

https://benjamincain8.medium.com/list/the-absurdity-of-god-397360389565

https://benjamincain8.medium.com/list/gods-funeral-3c9e5930a167

https://benjamincain8.medium.com/list/the-absurdity-of-godlessness-56cbecdc01af

https://benjamincain8.medium.com/list/christianity-and-islam-dad5c0d7814b

https://benjamincain8.medium.com/list/eastern-religions-and-mysticism-8203f5140be7