I don't disagree with you on the basic premise, but I'm pretty sure that the person you're replying to is a religious adult who has their shit together, and is probably not going to a church group that meets in a van down by the river, and practices "Steveism" or whatever.

For all of my problems with religion, churches are a good way for religious people to make friends and establish a social circle. It's one of the few Third Places left in our society.

I debated replying to this but I have to ask, “religious groups” is a very broad brush. I’ve been in various churches for most of my life and I’ve only seen them try to help the most vulnerable. In my area, post Helene it was the churches organizing volunteer chain saw crews to help get trees off of houses, cars and roads just as an example.

What would make you think they prey on vulnerable people?