feeling things out

It's obvious that in-depth intellectual debates are often fruitless at convincing people to discard their supernatural beliefs. An analogy for this is attempting to play tennis with someone who responds to a gentle serve by leaping out of the ball's path, picking it up after it lands, and hurling it away from the court ("Hah! You weren't ready for that!"). If pressed, they might state that they follow their beliefs because of how the beliefs make them feel. They aren't pondering what facts they would expect to see if their beliefs were accurate and then judging how closely those expectations are met by the facts on hand. They judge by their emotional expectations: "How could the beliefs I follow be inaccurate when they line up with my emotions so well?"

One answer is that the beliefs have been designed to do this. They took modern form after the tremendous effort of councils and prophets and theologians. Alternative forms with jarring inhuman qualities simply didn't win the arguments. The second answer is that the beliefs have evolved too. The more that they could pull on their followers' heart-strings, they more that they were likely to be accepted, faithfully kept, and passed on. The more that they failed to connect with common human feelings, the more likely they were to fail to compete and then die out. As others have observed, countries without official supernatural beliefs actually boost this evolution because beliefs can lead to mutated competing variants instead of a vigorously enforced monopoly or monoculture.

On the other hand, to some degree the ability of supernatural beliefs to match followers' emotions isn't because of the beliefs at all. When a belief of any kind is conventional, it's integrated into a context. It plays its particular part. It satisfies needs that the context evokes, so of course it seems fitting. In a context in which family ancestors are heavily revered, a belief that grants lasting afterlife and oversight to those ancestors will "feel right". In a context in which individual freedom is a top value, a belief that emphasizes the import1ance of a personal conversion decision will "feel right". In a context in which people's hunger for thrilling mystery isn't well-served, a belief in paranormal phenomena will "feel right". 

Even apart from specific content and favorable contexts, supernatural beliefs tend to have a general advantage for validating sentiment: constant certainty. They provide larger-than-life inspirations and targets that aren't messy. A supremely evil thing merits uncomplicated condemnation, and supreme good merits total adoration. The (alleged) support of an utterly powerful ally is a reason to remain calm despite circumstances. Statements that cannot be false (...or disproven...) give an unbending structure that can encourage trust. Detailed laws about morality offer up categories of acts and thoughts that deserve total disgust. Missions to save the world gratify cravings for purpose. 

Essentially, while emotions paint huge importance onto normal many-sided existence, supernatural beliefs can directly present an existence that in itself has huge importance and is made out of one-sided ideas. No wonder the diligent gathering of verified impartial knowledge can't fit emotions as well. But it's a superb fit for one: the drive to embrace reality as it is and escape the oppressive thoughts that don't.