Honestly, I'm inclined to think it's something put out there to guide us toward the higher power that's out there...
And for some people, it's to help them maintain some kind of ethical/moral code. After all, even if their religion doesn't have all the right answers, most if not all of them point toward doing what is good and just toward other people and living things...thus in the end, every religion has its place...whether its facts are slightly misconstrued or not...at least imo...