There is a minority of practitioners of any given religion who employ the methods their religion's founders attempted to teach and succeed in attaining the spiritual achievements prophesied in their scriptures.
They are the first to be branded heretics.
People follow false spiritual teachers and corrupt leaders that sedate them with narcotic platitudes because they are terrified of reality in any form. This is why Prophets, saints, and visionaries have always been persecuted.
Did you ever get the feeling that many of the political leaders, spokespersons, and other such pundits (including the religious, scientific, and inspirational) are merely playing a role? Could it all be a form of performance art in which humanity is the canvas they paint their imagery upon?