I answered a good question at Yahoo Answers.

"I just want someone that is very religious to explain to me why they're religious; however, any answers explaining why are welcome."

I'm a hardcore atheist but I think I can answer your question. These religious people have been brainwashed when they were gullible children to believe in magical bullshit. The big thing that was drilled into them was their loving god would torture them if they didn't suck up to it. The other big thing is the childish heaven fantasy. The victims of this brainwashing learned how to be cowards, afraid of reality.

There usually is no cure. If there is still some curiosity in them they might learn how to think and figure things out. But that's rare. Most of these people have brain damage that can't be fixed.