What is it about the quest for extraterrestrial life that fascinates humankind?

I was once a child, with innate curiosities about the origins of everything. Visiting forests and walking along nature trails were almost daily activities for me in those days...and then, adulthood 'happened'. What was once a profound yearning for knowledge became a quest for survival.

"Religion is flawed," I would say to myself.

"How can all of humanity be relegated to a man and a woman getting caught taking a bite from a fricking apple?" As if that wasn't ridiculous enough...a mythical man who multiplied food portions and who walked on water? Who actually believes that fairy tale anymore?

Anyhow, my contempt as an adult is attributed to the many years during which I was forced to sit in odd structures wherein people worshipped a 'holy' being and celebrated his many rogue missions.

Some say, "Trust science." I, personally, cannot place trust upon something that is in need of empirical data to prove its existence. Data can be skewed, numbers are fudged, and facts are omitted.

Which begs the question, "If I cannot trust science and do not believe in religion, then what else exists to provide a truthful explanation as to the origins of humankind?"

Am I alone in this quagmire of sorts or are there others?

Sincerely,

Alex