Those who come to church with a predisposition to religious belief will be happy in an auditorium or even a storefront, and there is no doubt that religion is sometimes better served by adapted spaces of this kind instead of by some of the buildings actually designed for it.
(A) adapted spaces of this kind instead of by some of the buildings actually designed for it
Remember this: in gmat, we can never use "this", "that", or "those" to substitute any subjects. They are usually used in the comparison and followed modifier or nouns. For example: the amount of food eaten by me is more than that eaten by him.
Instead, we should use "it", "they", or specific nouns. That leads to the conclusion: in gmat, "sth. of this kind", or "like this, these" are inferior to "such + noun".
(B) adapted spaces like these rather than some of the buildings actually designed for them
same as A, "like these" is wrong. In addition, these buildings are designed for "religion" so "is" is correct, not "them".
(C) these adapted spaces instead of by some of the buildings actually designed for it
"instead of" can be followed by nouns only.
(D) such adapted spaces rather than by some of the buildings actually designed for them
"them" is wrong, same as B. From what I remember, rather than + by in this context is correct. "instead of" can be followed by nouns only, but "rather than" doesn't have to.
(E) such adapted spaces than by some of the buildings actually designed for it
Correct. There is a "better" in the original sentence, so there must be a comparison indicator -- "than".