Perhaps that's the point. Religion is universal across human cultures, it must serve some, as yet unknown, evolutionary purpose to be so universally widespread.

Perhaps that's the point. Religion is universal across human cultures, it must serve some, as yet unknown, evolutionary purpose to be so universally widespread. I doubt that historical purpose was higher birth rates, but it certainly is now. Since it seems to grant such a huge advantage to evolutionary fitness, it will thrive, even dominate.