Religion is a crutch for weakminded people, so why would anyone willingly admit to being religious?
966663
This was a very illuminating question.  Answers included empty platitudes, insults, references to your supposed low IQ, suggestions that since the majority of people believe in god it must be true, and other intellectually underdeveloped answers.  It may seem like they didn't answer the question, but really they did.  The nature of their answer is in the phrase "intellectually underdeveloped."    The only thing I would add to these answers, since they mostly speak for themselves, is that no religious person will ever admit to any sort of mental weakness or error  because of the extreme cognitive dissonance created by tying your religious beliefs so closely to your definition of self.  The ego  couldn't take it.  Cognitive dissonance is a fascinating thing, isn't it?  This cognitive dissonance is the same reason they will not question their own beliefs and risk them being falsified.   This is what leads to the kind of faith we see in the religious - "I am, a priori correct, and no matter how much evidence to the contrary you produce, I have 'faith' and will not change my mind."
673120
Some people don't have a dedication to religion, and belief its made of false yet myths that are nonsense. For some people they were forced into religion younger so they deny it, or simply just don't want to accept the truth. And they find mockery of christianity entertaining, and believing the bible of made of nonsense which is false its based on the truth. Good luck though
595694
Because there are many ignorant people out there who let one incident decide their judgement about a religion.  There are also some narrow minded people who feel that their religion is what everyone should be.
668142
You hit the nail on the head.\n\nMany people think that they have a chance of being wrong, so they defend with ideas that result in the destruction of their own beliefs.\n\nLikewise people dont want to admit they belong to a certain group so they pretend they are not religious, when in relaity they are.\n\nSo the cause?\nPRIDE\n\nPride will always bring down mankind, it is what causes problems in every aspect of our lives, religion being only one of them.
1134524
It just makes it easier for them to ignore God and excuse away their choice not to follow Him.   It is difficult to grasp the concept of the enormity of God and many people simply cannot wrap their brains around it.
547787
This is very true. Most modern religious folks are not willing to step outside of their normal perspective on things. I find it a little sad that so many people refuse to think for themselves.
359535
some people have a large amount of "brain" and "logics"\nthey don't believe what they couldn't see, couldn't touch, couldn't feel.\n\nand some people thing that even some atheist doesn't believe in god, that people is blessed also.
572164
Well if you look at the actions taken by people due to what they believe, then you could assume there is a connection between beliefs and your social gregariousness.  Take for instance people that pass out fliers for others to visit their church,  because of their religion they make themselves more social by interacting with strangers for their church.  Christian youth group vans or buses often driving about with a group of youngsters yelling out the windows "Jesus loves you".  And the Mormons, for Christ's sake, they come up to your door and want to come in your home to tell you about their beliefs.  Also with religious beliefs you usually have a gathering of people to worship together on a set day and time.  Where as atheists usually don't run around yelling out that they don't believe in something and don't try to get people to not believe with them.  Would this make every atheists introverted, no.  And it doesn't make all religious people extroverted, of course not.  But it may have an influence on a person who feels obligated to be social, even though they don't feel comfortable in doing so, because of the religious beliefs they have.  I could go on and on about this, and then completely argue the other side of the question just as much, but I think my point was pretty much made.
133382
I believe religions intention is ultimately to help people. Whether you’re a believer or an atheist in whatever religion, it is primarily our foundation for what is “good” in the world. Now while nonbelievers may claim they use reason, kindness, and other non religious ways to determine good from bad - it is irrelevant because it all originally, (or at best) coincides from the origin of some religion which deemed that act, behavior, or things as good or bad. So to me religion helps because it sets a standard which majority of people try to met in how to act what we call “civilized” and be a “good” human being. \n\nNow, the hurting part lies in the extremes that religion sometimes spawns in it’s believers as well as nonbelievers. People who become so adamant about their belief, and feel others are wrong, (either in their beliefs or something completely different) may become mean, rude, and in extreme cases such as religious suicide bombers or martyrs, deadly to others. This I feel is the bad thing with religion, (but keep in mind that man has made a bad thing out of religion - not religion itself).
84799
I think religion is a way for people to support each other in feeling spiritual and making correct moral decisions. Some people won't make good decisions on spirituality alone, and for those people, having other people around them helps.\n\nEDIT FOR ADDTNL INFO:\nWhy is anything neccessary? Why are homes neccessary? Why don't people just live at work? Eat grass? Because we as humans desire more, a more personal experience, a more organized approach. You don't get people at your community center sharing uplifting stories about standing up for what is right.
355666
To give them a handle on life and where they fit in. Also because many are unable to handle the concept that their only reason for existence is to experience life in the physical realm. People NEED something to believe in and religion is the biggest and most popular thing to buy into to stave off uncertainty and insecurity.
833103
Some may do it for the same reason religious people send missionaries out.  They want to share their perception of the truth with those who they see as lost.  Maybe you should look past the annoyance, and be grateful they care.\n\nOthers may do it because they find it unbelievable that people can believe in something so simplistic.  These athiests may be disdainful of people who believes something just because it feels good, and they (religious people) refuse to see things as a rational person would because they don't want to rock the boat in which their beliefs are floating.\n\nOthers may be tired of all the religious people who think that whatever the higher being is running everything (if there is a higher being) belongs to christians/muslims/etc.. just because these people have named it/him and have outlined all his characteristics, etc.\n\nAnd maybe people are bored on a Saturday night and they have found there is more action in the religion & Spirituality section than in the household cleaning section (if there is even such a section).
630091
I think it is the lack of faith in God and the lack of this feeling of accountability that is causing all the strife in the world - just think how this world will be without athiests posing as religious people causing all kinds of harm cause they dont believe they will eventually be held accountable for their sins...
477442
No. It's just the more religious a person is the she/he hides from his/her self. People don't like to admit to themselves that they're petty, mean-spirited, backstabbing jerks. Therefore, they throw themselves into religion, using their relationship with "God" as a substitute for basic human goodness.\nThere are a few who transcend that and are truly good and spiritual, but the vast majority of Bible-thumpers aren't either.
357579
People who have such closed minds never read beyond what they believe to be true, therefore they just make up arrogant assumptions about others. Rather like that dumb cow who thought she should pray for me and my wife because she 'assumed' our marriage was weak! \n\nAssumptions are the mother of all f**k-ups!
87135
Because many many people see the horrors of religion in general, the absolute lack of reason in involved with "faith" and are not afraid of death.  \n\nThe world is a teeny tiny place in the realm of the universe and whatever is beyond what we can see.  Many people need to be comforted by believeing that there is something "out there" taking care of the human race.  \n\nMany feel the need to have something to guide them (could it be that their moral principles are not strong enough, or that they just need SOME kind of purpose to not feel like a waste of flesh?).  \n\nFor some, it is just easier to be blind to reality and accept a made up god than to actually use their brain to ask the questions which might be able to actually provide any comprehensible answers.
63503
People need religion because they are scared to face the truth.  Thinking that there is someone or something more intelligent and powerful than you who is looking out for you and loves you and has your best interests at heart is more comforting than accepting the truth.  If people accepted the truth, then they would realize how insignificant and powerless they are in proportion to the universe, and that would just be way too hard for most people to face.  Religion offers answers, and tells you that everything will be easy if you 'just believe in whatever'.  Religion tells people that they are the 'special ones' the 'chosen ones' that they are right in everything they do if they only believe.  Also religion symbolizes things that are actually taking place in people's lives.  Just about everyone can relate to the religious stories if they try.  I believe that things can be learned from religion, but only if it is taken purely as symbolisim.  like little kid's stories that teach lessons, only religious stories are meant to teach bigger lessons to everyone.  It's easy to see why so many people desperately need religion and take it as fact.