How Humanity Invented God: The Secret Evolution of Faith

Unveiling the Surprising Origins of the Divine in Human Imagination

Since the dawn of time, humans have gazed at the stars and wondered: Who made this? Why are we here? The earliest myths—stories told around flickering fires or painted on cave walls—were more than entertainment. They were the first tools for survival, offering frameworks for understanding the unpredictable world. In Karen Armstrong’s A History of God, we learn that myth was not meant to be literal truth, but a symbolic language for expressing awe, anxiety, and hope. Early humans saw spirits in the wind, the sun, and the earth, honoring them through ritual and song, seeking to draw down their power and ensure the tribe’s survival.

Anthropologists have found that many ancient societies believed in a supreme Sky God—remote and rarely involved in daily affairs. This idea appears in African tribal religions, Mesopotamian myths, and Canaanite traditions. Sacred objects, like standing stones and goddess figurines, were believed to serve as portals to the divine. Through these rituals and objects, early people channeled the power of unseen forces to guarantee fertility, protection, and success. Religion was pragmatic: it worked if it brought rain, victory, or peace. It was also creative, evolving as each generation reinterpreted the world’s mysteries.

As tribes became nations, their gods became more complex. Some faded into the background, replaced by new deities who were closer and more accessible. Yet, the memory of the Sky God lingered, shaping the spiritual imagination for centuries to come. This early phase of religious evolution set the stage for the later emergence of monotheism and the powerful idea that one God could stand behind all creation. Understanding these beginnings helps us appreciate the richness and diversity of faith across time and cultures.

Next, we’ll follow the journey from many gods to the One God of Abraham—a transformation that would reshape history and the human heart.