Maybe there are reasons why religions that did that died out..
Maybe not.
It's almost like religion is just a tool for the power hungry to abuse the rest of us. Being an actual believer? C'mon man, that isn't for Us, the prospective potential rulers of the world. Thats for them, the poors, the dumb.
/s when and where you need it.
Maybe Pagan and Axial age beliefs have a reason to be, perhaps both as hierarchical tools, but also having hidden meaning, or even a way to repent and change.