Ascent of the Gods: A brief history of humanity's relationship with its gods

The first homonid to walk erect on the grasslands of East-Africa was Homo erectus about 2 million years ago. But it was only about 200,000 years ago that the first true human, Homo neanderthalis, displayed behaviours that suggests a capability for abstract thinking. They were the first of our ancient ancestors to bury their dead, to depict their world through art, and to make aesthetic objects. They may also be the first humans to have a form of spiritual belief. From these simple beginnings, all civilizations have believed in a god or gods, be it Amun, Ba’al, Krishna, Jehovah, Quetzalocoatl, Unkulunkulu or Zeus. Belief in god seems to be inexorably linked to our own development as a species and has been described as the glue in our collective human history and culture. Despite the lack of indisputable physical evidence that could prove the existance of the gods, god and religion continues to be an integral part of the culture of all societies. Where does this universal belief in gods come from? And how has our concept of god changed over time? This book will explore the evolution of the various incarnations of god over time, the evidence, assumptions and misconceptions underlying spiritual belief, as well as factual errors that have become accepted ‘truths’. This book will entertain, amuse and inform you as we search for the origins of god.