The only reason any religious mythology exists, at the end of the day,
is because it is of great benefit to the rulers to impose such beliefs on those ruled.
As happened in the era being discussed (just as it is happening today),
powerful men will actually invent new religions to seize power from other powerful men.

...but I got my religious beliefs from my grandmother, and from other people who inspired me - not from powerful men. And although I'm a Roman Catholic, I didn't get my religious beliefs from Rome, and I don't depend on Rome for religious guidance. Rome guides my faith about as effectively as George Bush guides my being an American. Rome does have a function in my being a Catholic, and George does have some effect on me as an American, but they are not the central focus points of the faith and citizenship of the person known as Joe Offer.
-Joe Offer-