Reply #2: As far as the fundies go...

[porphyrian]

Faith, and by this I mean "accepting something without factual evidence," plays a major role in it. The problem with faith, and my problem with organized religions which espouse it, it that it serves as a powerful form of population control. After all, what more can a ruling body ask for than the threat/promise of something they never have to prove or provide as a means of controlling the behavior of the masses? You can externalize all responsibility with faith. It's the fast-food religion for those too stupid, lazy or scared to examine reality in an existential manner.