Why does religion even exist in the 21st century?

[CornishAcid]

Why are children with imaginary friends worried over when we have adults who genuinely, earnestly believe that they can talk to a big man in the clouds who watches over everything? It's ridiculous that we actually take the opinions of these deluded people seriously.

Why is there a need for something 'higher'? Is life not incredible enough without looking for something heavenly? Human beings are absolutely magnificent in themselves, there should be no desire for more than this. How can you honestly justify having such inane thoughts when we've come so far as a scientific people?

Now I wouldn't ever mock someone's beliefs for the sake of being sardonic, and everyone is entitled to think whatever they like. I'm not saying religion should be banned, I just don't understand why it's even still here when it should have been eradicated long ago by our aquired understanding of the world.