They spend most of their time in a liberal, scientific culture, so sooner or later they would all probably figure out that the stories aren't historically accurate,
That sounds an awful lot like neglecting externalities.
None of them are going to vote for politicians, e.g., who promise to make the sun stop in the sky so that they can finish a battle.
My understanding is that the more popular saints and prophets did not announce the specifics of their tactically-significant miracles in advance, and that more than a few people voted for Bush on the strength of his claim to communicate with God (along with the implication that he can ask for help when needed, and has a better-than-average chance of receiving it).
My understanding is that the more popular saints and prophets did not announce the specifics of their tactically-significant miracles in advance,
In the one referred by MassDriver, where Joshua makes the sun stand still, he does ask for that to happen. Note that many Biblical miracles have the prophets saying what will happen in advance. Most likely the stories never even took place. Similarly, many modern faith healers say what will happen well in advance, but the claimed miracles are simply not impressive.
...that more than a few people voted for Bush
I've long entertained a dubious regard for the practice of lying to children about the existence of Santa Claus. Parents might claim that it serves to make children's lives more magical and exciting, but as a general rule, children are adequately equipped to create fantasies of their own without their parents' intervention. The two reasons I suspect rest at the bottom line are adherence to tradition, and finding it cute to see one's children believing ridiculous things.
Personally, I considered this to be a rather indecent way to treat one's own children, and have sometimes wondered whether a large proportion of conspiracy theorists owe their origins to the realization that practically all the adults in the country really are conspiring to deceive children for no tangible benefit. However, since I began frequenting this site, I've been exposed to the alternate viewpoint that this realization may be good for developing rationalists, because it provides children with the experience of discovering that they hold beliefs which are wrong and absurd, and that they must reject them.
So, how did the Santa deception affect you personally? How do you think your life might have been different without it? If your parents didn't do it to you, what are your impressions on the experience of not being lied to when most other children are?
Also, I promise to upvote anyone who links to an easy to register for community of conspiracy theorists where they would not be averse to being asked the same question.