I really ponder how anyone over age 21 can interpret it any other way. There are no supernatural books or stories. All kinds of people claim they hear the voice of god, it's the popularity of these specific stories that defines them as religions.
Santa and Easter Bunny we indoctrinate people into at a young age and we don't have trouble explaining that they are fiction.... still are useful stories.
Usually in those cases parents confess to the lie at some point or children find out from others that were confessed to. They're also much easier to prove false, especially with modern cameras. Can't do that retroactively
Community. They do it for other reasons than the stories. They will defend the stories and say they aren't literal because you are on the outside. And once you are on the outside it's usually where you stay.
I played in a church's band for a while. It was easy money. Then they wanted someone who'd do it for free, so, y'know. I was happy to make room and not have to play horrible music.