Belief in a "higher power" derives from insufficient courage to face the task of full individuation. Most people are afraid to completely "cut the apron strings" of their parents and look for the comfort of something to relieve the anxiety of having to make a life of their own. This is a generalization, of course, but fear of the unknown is very powerful. When a person is offered an explanation that addresses this fear, he grasps for the feeling of safety that the family collective once provided. God is his new daddy.