I think most people raised in New Zealand learnt what they know about Christianity as primary children at school, just like their parents. That and how TV represents religion, which is
dominated by the US. Science isn't much better, kids don't come out of school confident how to use science to make effective decisions.
At their most fundamental both are about finding ways of living effective lives. Believing your dead kid "is in a better place" is often the most effective approach a person has available to them.
Right now it's neither religion nor science that's standing in our way of making effective decisions. It's politics. It's people willing to say and do anything, to ignore any evidence, for the sake of keeping wealth and power in the hands of them and theirs. That scientific knowledge is gained not through disciplined effort,
but conspiracy.