God, similar to conspiracy theory, exists because humans need to feel in control. We crave it. The idea of a multitude of biological beings floating on a big rock in the middle of a sparse vacuum existing in a seemingly random* existence is terrifying. Hence, the need for a wide range of Gods from the level pulling omnipotent dictator to the benevolent spiritual life force depending on each religious/spiritual person's level of control needed. These Gods control the randomness* that scares us thus we can be in control by putting our faith into God.

Also, victim mentality is a choice that is prevalent throughout the world's cultures. The idea that someone else is in control and you're simply a passenger to some divine path is appealing. It is liberating and pacifying to the human need for control. Anything that doesn't go your way is because God has a bigger plan you can't understand (i.e addresses the randomness we can't comprehend) and works in mysterious ways.

Personally, I think religion and God is a bug in our biological programming that is slowly being remedied over time as we further our understanding of our universe. Will we ever be rid of it? Probably not but I hope for it.

*I will acknowledge randomness is more attributed to the lack of understanding of incredibly complex systems interacting with each other in a way we cannot comprehend or interpret. Nothing is purely random imo. It's just how we define the outcomes we cannot ascertain.

Not sure how relevant my post is given we quickly swerved to discuss free will. To me free will discussion seems irrelevant given the outcomes but ok.