The idea of God is old. People needed it in times during the black plague where the shit hit the fan and there was no hope (and during the black plague by the way, the church didn't do jack squat. and neither did praying). People also needed it when they couldn't explain something. "Our crops have gone to shit because we haven't prayed enough" bullshit. Your crops have gone to shit because of the lack of water, or lack of care, or they were hit with frost, or they went to shit due to a pest eating and infecting them. etc etc. In today's modern world we need people to stand up, get dirty, and help rather then rely on some deity (who doesn't exist by the way) to help get you through everyday life because your life is "so shit" without him. hard work pays off; praying doesn't.