The way I see it, people's beliefs are fueled by what they know, or don't know for that matter. Before anyone had ever seen miracles and exorcisms, it was probably a lot easier to believe a man could turn water into wine. We always read of prophets and religious icons having visions, speaking with god, healing the deaf, crippled, and blind...but we don't see miracles like that today that much. Sometimes I feel it's all a matter of perception. Now of course I'm not calling religion a huge magic show to trick peoples minds. I'm simply applying the possibility that religion seems so far fetched because of the fact that it was verbally passed on so much in the early years, and people were probably fooled a little easier back then.
Think about how rumors get spread. Someone hears the details wrong and passes it along as such. Eventually the entire point of the conversation is strayed. I think of religion in the same aspect. Most of them touch on the same morals and values such as peace, good will towards others, forgiveness, and faith. It's just the specifics that everyone gets so drawn apart by. Most of the arguements surrounding beliefs are usually science versus miracles. Can a man physically walk on water? Can a man physically heal the hurt and suffering? I try to stay away from those arguements and focus on the messages within. The ten commandments for instance. Half of them are ways to uphold the lord, and the other half are simply laws on what is considered wrong, many of which are laws in most current societies. And each religion has it's own version of the commandments, yet all voice the same principles.

I'm sure anyone reading this is wondering if I am religious or not. Well, I'm more agnostic than anything, but I do feel that spontaneous generation is impossible, thus the universe was originally created by some exterior power/force/being/element....whatever you wanna call it. In the same sense it's hard to believe that evolution doesn't occur when it's evident and apparent in every day on Earth. Hundreds of species are killed off every day, and yet completely new ones are found in the same amount of time. Clearly evidence of new plants and animals reforming to new environmental conditions. In conclusion, I find myself living my life based on a lot of the morals conveyed in most religions, yet still hold strong to the process of scientific fact. I feel religion is simply something we use to choose what kind of life we want to lead, and the rest is up to what you really feel and believe inside.