We don't like having stuff too big and scary and complicated to understand, so it comes as no surprise that stories get invented to simplify it all!
"Thunder and lightning and birth and death and illness and recovery...wow! Great unseen spirts & powers must be at work!"

After many thousands of years, we even think we know what we MEAN by all those metaphysical terms.
   Once all the images, statues, legends, edifices and organizations to codify and organize the beliefs are in place and entrenched, it is awkward and unthinkable for many to allow some presumptuous little ideas like 'evolution' and 'scientific method' and 'physics' and 'astronomy' and 'anthropology' to come along and suggest that all those revered stories and institutions might need a little reevaluation.

So, we have a museum in Cincinnati that says the Earth IS only 6000 years old.

once more, my story about my favorite cartoon:

There is a cartoon strip called "Hagar the Horrible", about a silly Viking type with very modern problems. One Sunday saw him visiting the local wizard, Dr. Zook, who had a huge stone ring leaning against the wall, like that 'money' on Yap Island.

"What's this?", asks Hagar.
"That's my new scientific measuring device." replys Dr. Zook, "Step in!"
....so Hagar squirms into the center of the stone ring....

"More...hunch down...squeeze tighter..." Zook says, as Hagar tries to cram himself into the tight space. Finally, he is in, awkwardly peering out at the pleased wizard.

"There!", says Dr. Zook with authority, "You are exactly 5 feet tall!"

I don't suppose Bishop Usher would get the joke....