Do humans have a faith instinct?

[xoxoxoBruce]

Maybe universe was a poor choice of words, but people talking about colonizing other specks of dust, impress me as feeling we are the masters of everything.

You seem to think that everyone that becomes a member of a particular sect, subscribes automatically to all the statements of the leaders of that sect. My experience is most people have a much more casual relationship with the church. Sure, there are rabid followers that expound chapter & verse, and wackos like Fred Phelps who are completely out of left field, but the majority are just doing their own thing.