Throughout human history, supporters of various religions have passionately proclaimed that their religion is the supreme, truest and the oldest. Every religion asserts that its god is eternal, unchanging, and beyond the reach of time. Yet, a closer examination of human civilization reveals an opposite reality. Religions, civilizations and their gods are born, revered, and eventually forgotten. This cycle of divine emergence and decline is not a reflection of the gods themselves, but of the societies that create and sustain them.

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From the ancient cities of Babylon and Sumer to the majestic empires of Greece, Rome, Egypt, India, China, and the civilizations of the Americas such as the Maya and Inca, every culture has crafted its own pantheon of deities. These gods—Zeus, Apollo, Jupiter, Thor, Ra, Indra, Mitra, Athena, Usha, and countless others, once commanded rituals, sacrifices, and unwavering devotion. Today, many of these divine figures have faded into myth, their temples reduced to ruins and their names preserved only in literature and archaeology. They are no longer worshipped, no longer feared, and no longer central to the moral compass of society.

The decline of a deity often coincides with shifts in political power, cultural values, and philosophical thought. In some eras, rulers enforced religious conformity, using divine authority to legitimize their reign. In others, thinkers and reformers introduced new ideologies, started new gods or reinterpreted old ones to suit evolving worldviews. Just as fashion trends rise and fall, so too do gods ascend and descend in popularity. A deity becomes prominent when it resonates with the collective psyche of a people; it is forgotten when it no longer serves their spiritual or existential needs.

In the modern era, monotheistic religions such as Islam and Christianity dominate much of the global religious landscape. Hinduism, with its rich tapestry of deities and philosophies, continues to thrive as a major force in South Asia and beyond. Yet, alongside these enduring traditions, a new paradigm is gaining momentum and that is atheism and secular humanism. Particularly in Western societies, individuals are increasingly questioning religious dogma and embracing reason, science, and ethical frameworks independent of divine command. This shift reflects a broader desire to liberate the human mind from inherited beliefs and to seek truth through inquiry and compassion.

In regions where religious orthodoxy remains tightly bound to state power, such as in many Islamic and Catholic nations, atheism is often suppressed. Nevertheless, even in these contexts, the stirrings of intellectual awakening are becoming evident. In India, the landscape is complex and evolving. While one segment of society gravitating toward religious conservatism and revivalism, another is embracing rationalism, critical thinking, and pluralistic values. This internal divergence underscores the dynamic nature of belief and the role of individual agency in shaping spiritual identity.

Ultimately, the story of gods is the story of humanity. Deities do not exist in isolation; they are reflections of human hopes, fears, values, and aspirations. They are born from our imagination, sustained by our rituals, and extinguished by our silence. Religion, in its essence, is a human creation. It is a cultural artifact that evolves with time. As societies progress, so too does their understanding of the divine, often moving from myth to metaphor, from worship to wisdom.

In acknowledging this, we do not diminish the significance of faith. Rather, we honor its place in the human journey, while recognizing that belief is not static, but a living dialogue between the past and the present, between tradition and transformation. Whether one chooses devotion, doubt, or discovery, the path is ultimately centred on human society. We shaped gods, we created them and we also abandon them. This is the reality which we should accept.

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