the cling.

Many people seem to assume that suffering is a requirement for bad behavior to be excused. 

Thus, many who think they have done something bad, feel the need to suffer. 

Thus, many people look for suffering, and one of the easiest ways to suffer is to insist your theology is the right one in the face of people and evidence that might question it and/or ridicule you for it. 

In other words, clinging to religious bias is often a relief for wrong behavior.