There is a widening knowledge chasm and we see a prevalence of simpler belief systems.
Before the advent of modern science, you could define the known reality in simple terms. You saw the Sun, the Moon, and rain you felt the wind. Explanations for natural phenomenon were scarse.
As science evolves and complexifies itself, the general populace is less and less in touch with that “refined reality”. Ask people in the streets what is trigonometry and most people will tell you” it’s something you learn in school and it was boring”, without being able to elaborate much.
Now ask them what is a 6D Manifold, a virtual black holes, quantum computers, super string theory, or the benefits of nanotechnology. My guess is that you’ll get a lot or perplexed looks and no answers.
It seems some countries, such as the USA, have a significant part of their population dropping out of the complexification and reverting to simpler explanations. Instead of keeping with the ever developing branches of sciences, we hear the “God made it” explanation very often. Sometimes, it is disguised as pseudo-science as in the Creation Science and its spinoff, Intelligent Design.
What will happen in 50 years, when our understanding of the natural worl in 1000 more complex and layered as now? Will 80% of the population still practice superstitious rituals and not have a clue how things around them work? I think so.