I'm trying to collect some informal data on religions goings on in the world. I'm doing this simply for education of self, and hope, if anyone responds, they will be educated as well.

Below is an example of the format i'm looking for. I will use my personal experience first

1. Country: USA
2. Time span: 1988 - present
3. Experiences:
a. my parents are a superstitious bunch. they pray for no reason i can discern. they say they are buddhist, but i doubt that what they do has much to do with buddhism.
b. i rejected this as soon as i had the thought to analyze it. they still do it - which, orignally i met with anger, I now meet with annoyance. I even attempted to brainwash myself into believing saying things to incorporeal spirits along a voicemail app of the earth will result in some god or such changing its whims at your command. i found it silly and demeaning to human dignity
c. I grew up in a Christian town. Very vocal baptist community. I live there now, and the depression seems to have toned everyone down, but I get the impression that these people are so desperate to believe in something, they will believe in anything. But I also get the impression they don't really believe in it and have to brainwash themselves with tropisms and rituals to give themselves the illusion of belief (self denial at its highest form)
d. religious folk seem friendly. I used to think they were decent folk, but most of the ones I know are horrific monstorcities who hide under the veneer of kindness.
e. i went to a college where 98 percent of my peers were adamant atheists. They mocked religion when it came up, but otherwised focused on a form of hedonism characteristic of only college age men and women, in otherwords - half assed. When I connected with them again after college, they seem to have legitimately grown into better people
f. I am currently studying the dao. Mainly I am doing this cuz I hope i can get some asian super powers. the philosophy is calming though, so I may gel in it until something more suitable is found.
g. scientism, from the youtube videos I see, is just annoying.
4. Conclusions:
a. People choose the faith that fits their desires. Christians admit to being horrible people - some aim to fix it, but most accept their faith as a license to "sin" - something these sermon ready hear they should not do in church. Buddhists seem to be poor yokels that are desperate for a hand out from the universe. Atheists vary, at least on this forum.
b. people seldom chain their faith. I do not know why this is.

hopes:
1. that we will one day live in a sane and decent world
2. I do not have my hopes up