I actually think the answer to this is pretty easy.
Religious don't operate strictly in the world of facts and logic. They are largely cultural constructions to explain what the cultural wants to be true, so this family is heaped in a culture where they want to believe (in the face of all contrary evidence), that they have the knowledge, ability, power... to protect their daughter from threats. They believe this to such an extent that they are willing to wrap it into their own personal belief structure and create a self justifications.
Once you start believe in an obvious constructions without evidence, it's a lot easier to add things to those constructions without evidence, so it doesn't matter that it doesn't make sense.
|