Muslims, answer me this:?

How can I continue to believe in Allah when non Muslims are making marvelous strides in sciences, public affairs, etc., where as Muslims pray five times a day, and practice their rituals, which I believe waste too much time, yet they are among the most backward people. I know because I was raised in Pakistan in a rich family before I came to US. I have lived nine years in Pakistan, and seven years in US, and I believe that despite the moral support we get by believing in an all-power God, the remaining few miracles that we may experience are results of placebo effect and coincidences. I do not have a more plausible alternative than the one presented by monotheistic religions, however, prayers, rituals, and customs that accompany having faith in a religion squander too much time that we could utilize as brain power to fix world's issues and help the suffering people--also consider that time is the most precious commodity in this world. Muslims pray everyday, and have been for many years; yet they lag marginally behind some western countries, whose people do not believe in God, in technological advancements that make our lives more bearable than now. Please do not reply back with cliches that can be rationalized by ethereal beliefs, etc. How is God helping the Muslim cause, and why did he make us even though he knew that we were going to sin: did he make the sinners knowing that they would sin and burn in hell?--Is this really our reality?