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[[File:Amaterasugoddess19.jpg|thumb|left|Figure 1. Amaterasu was the goddess of the Sun and was depicted as a type of sun-disk female figure.]]In many world faiths, humanity is ruled by an all -knowing and powerful god or sometimes gods. This understanding has a long history and surprisingly many faiths have taken it as given that god(s) rule over mortal humankind. Stories and myths around some of the ancient religions that created or had developed this understanding are evident in a variety of locations and periods.
====Examples in the Old World====
In many myths, how gods ruled over humanity is often tied in to the creation myths that those in these religions have. However, it is also more complex than this, as often the power structure and hierarchy of the gods varies across time. In other words, which gods rule over humans, even for a given society, has often changed and the relationship that humans have created with their gods reflects how people saw their world. Take for example in Egypt, where in the New Kingdom (c. 1500-1100 BCE) period, in the late 2nd millennium BCE, the combined god Amun-Ra was seen as the chief of the pantheon of gods. In earlier period, it was Pharaoh who was the important or even most important god as embodying Horus. Egypt, like many Mediterranean and Old World societies, saw that gods, like human societies, had hierarchies. Thus, gods ruled not only humans, because they created humans, but that there was a hierarchy of power among gods. That hierarchy shifted across time, often based on political change or shifts in power, such as priestly classes gaining more power in Thebes in the New Kingdom period, where Amun-Ra became the head of the pantheon. This is also true in ancient Mesopotamia. The gods created humans, in this case, but according to the <i>Enuma Elish</i> or at least the later version of the story, it is the god Marduk who heroically comes to the defense of humans and the gods who achieves power over people. In the war between gods, the victorious gods chose Marduk to rule them all and, by extension, humanity who serves the gods. In an earlier version of that story, the heroic god was Enlil, indicating that a type of power displacement occurred and the chief god shifted over time. Other similar stories exist, but with other gods inserted as the victorious god, including the god Ashur in northern Mesopotamia, in ancient Assyria, or modern northern Iraq. In both the Egyptian and Mesopotamian beliefs, humans directly serve gods in a clear, hierarchical pattern. The main purpose of humanity is to serve the gods through sacrifice and works. People can ask for gods to intercede or to help them but human fate is ultimately controlled by different gods, including one's personal gods or gods associated with given people.<ref>For more on gods in Egypt and Mesopotamia, and including the wider Near East, see: Holland, G.S., 2010. <i>Gods in the desert: religions of the ancient Near East</i>. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.</ref> Gods in traditional Central and Southern African societies also emphasized a hierarchy of gods. A good example in Igbo culture in Nigeria is Chukwu, who was the supreme god who created and assigned tasks to all beings, including other gods. This structure of power defined the relationship between gods, that is a chief god Chukwu, who then acts as a type of overlord god to the other gods. Several African cultures also believed in the higher-level gods and lower gods who were created by the higher gods or served them, with humans being a part of the hierarchy of defined relationships. Different gods also had different roles over time, often shifting their position of importance over time.<ref>For more on traditional beliefs, see: Olupona, J.K., 2014. <i>African religions: a very short introduction</i>. Oxford University Press, New York.</ref>
In Shintism, Amaterasu emerged as the New Worldmost powerful deity, Aztec belief also put sacrificewho is a sun goddess and became, similar to many Old World beliefsamong her sibling gods, as a key concept in how humans related to the gods. Sacrifice, like goddess in the Old World, displays a hierarchical power structure where gods demand obedience charge of keeping balance and worship harmony on Earth (Figure 1). Her chief priestess became an unmarried woman from their subject humansthe Emperor's household. The national god was HuitzilopochtliThus, who demanded blood authority and power were given to her to be placated. In this casekeep peace and harmony on Earth, similar where she would then bestow power to the Old World, sacrifice was intended emperor and his family to keep Huitzilopochtli peace. Harmony and purity are considered the high ideals of Shintoism and other gods happy, as humans owed them a blood debtare the purposes of humanity. In The most ancient Chinese religious belief system known to us emphasized the case of Aztecsgod Shangti, if gods were angry who was the results could be catastrophicsupreme being that controlled war, as they can turn day into night and destroy even light. Thusweather, unlike most Old World societiessuccess in life, human sacrifice was used as a means to repay this blood debt and was other aspects within Earth from the only way to keep time of the gods happyShang Dynasty. The ancient Maya did worship Hunab-KuHowever, who is a type of all knowing and powerful the god. Purpose in life was similarly to make the gods happy through sacrifice, although the Maya also believed their lives powerful and could not be tied accessible to normal humans. This justifies having the fate of their calendar that would expire in the cycle of destruction Chinese emperors, who are intermediaries and recreation experienced at pray or request things from Shagti, such as rain for the end of each Earthharvest. In at least one known set of Inca beliefsLater, Viracocha was this god evolved into the supreme creator godconcept of Heaven, who is symbolized by with Heaven itself ruling over all other beings. Later Taoism developed the sun concept of harmony through Ying and storms. This god gives Yang, which are male and makes female qualities that balance life possible. However, humans were only a second attempt, Effectively the meaning and understanding of how Shagti controlled humanity changed as the first beings on Earth were giantsphilosophies and ruling classes changed in China. Nevertheless, humanity owes its existence to Viracocha andmany of the qualities espoused in Shagti, even if modified in casesform, this sacrifice demanded human sacrifice. In a similar manner, humanity was ruled were worshiped and carried on by the heirarhcy of gods with Viracocha at the top, with humanity also owing gods a type of blood debt (Figure 2)Taoist philosophers.<ref>For more on some how eastern philosophies and religions viewed relationships of the major ancient states in the New World deities and their beliefsgods to humanity, see: MurphyCoogan, M.D., Narayanan, JV. (EdEds.), 20142005. <i9i>Gods & goddesses of the IncaEastern religions: origins, beliefs, Mayapractices, and Aztecs civilizationsholy texts, Gods and goddesses of mythology sacred places</i>. Rosen Educational ServicesOxford University Press, Oxford ; New York.</ref>
In Norse cosmology, the Algonquin tradition, Gitche Manitou was a spirit being who created lifeworlds and realms are divided into nine worlds. All things had balance with other lifeHumans occupy the world known as Midgard, while many of the gods are in the concept of ManitouAsgard, which where Odin rules and is similar to beliefs such as Shintoismthe most powerful. In this caseNorse beliefs, beings are not in a type of hierarchy of power with their creator but there is a balance in life that attempts to maintain harmony in several gods occupy the world through different forms of lifetop realm, including Odin, Frigg, Thor, Loki, Balder, Hod, Heimdall, and Tyr, with humans being one of these forms that are also needed to keep harmonywho represent the Æsir clan. This lack of clear hierarchy of power distinguishes it from Old World Gods ruled as they pleased, and even often fought each other beliefs from the New World that generally emphasized a hierarchy of for power among gods and beings. Hopi mythology also emphasizes balance and harmony. Tawa is the creator spirit, but things, including humans, are created sacrificed to be in harmony with each other. The Kachina dancers and masks that Hopi wore were intended them to help maintain harmony in the worldreceive favor, preventing chaos from reigning, which may initiate the end of the worldincluding gods interceding or helping during life. In generalHowever, North American native communities displayed far less hierarchy in the relationship between spirits/gods and humanity, emphasizing connective relationships that keeps a type of balance or harmony.<ref>For more on native North American similar to many ancient Old World beliefs, see: Sullivancan be almost whimsical, L.Edoing as they please.The fate of people was determined by the Norns, who were three female beings, 2003. <i>Native religions who weave the fate of humans and cultures of North America</i>. Continuum, New Yorkgods alike. </ref>
==Wider Significance==Examples in the New World====[[File:vira.jpeg|thumb|left|Figure 2. Since pre-Inca Andean cultures, Viracocha was seen as a creator god requiring a blood debt to be paid.]]In the New World, Aztec belief also put sacrifice, similar to many Old World beliefs, as a key concept in how humans related to the gods. Sacrifice, like in the Old World, displays a hierarchical power structure where gods demand obedience and worship from their subject humans. The national god was Huitzilopochtli, who demanded blood to be placated. In this case, similar to the Old World, sacrifice was intended to keep Huitzilopochtli and other gods happy, as humans owed them a blood debt. In the case of Aztecs, if gods were angry the results could be catastrophic, as they can turn day into night and destroy even light.
Thus, unlike most Old World societies, human sacrifice was used as a means to repay this blood debt and was the only way to keep the gods happy. The ancient Maya did worship Hunab-Ku, who is a type of all-knowing and powerful god. Purpose in life was to make the gods happy through sacrifice, although the Maya also believed their lives could be tied to the fate of their calendar that would expire in the cycle of destruction and recreation experienced at the end of each Earth. In at least one known set of Inca beliefs, Viracocha was the supreme creator god, who is symbolized by the sun and storms. This god gives and makes life possible. However, humans were only a second attempt, as the first beings on Earth were giants. Nevertheless, humanity owes its existence to Viracocha and, in cases, this sacrifice demanded human sacrifice. In a similar manner, humanity was ruled by the hierarchy of gods with Viracocha at the top, with humanity also owing gods a type of blood debt (Figure 2).<ref>For more on some of the major ancient states in the New World and their beliefs, see: Murphy, J. (Ed.), 2014. <i>Gods & goddesses of the Inca, Maya, and Aztecs civilizations, Gods and goddesses of mythology </i>. Rosen Educational Services, New York.</ref>
In the Algonquin tradition, Gitche Manitou was a spirit being who created life. All things had to balance with other life, in the concept of Manitou, which is similar to beliefs such as Shintoism. In this case, beings are not in a type of hierarchy of power with their creator but there is a balance in life that attempts to maintain harmony in the world through different forms of life, with humans being one of these forms that are also needed to keep harmony. This lack of a clear hierarchy of power distinguishes it from Old World and even other beliefs from the New World that generally emphasized a hierarchy of power among gods and beings.
Hopi mythology also emphasizes balance and harmony. Tawa is the creator spirit, but things, including humans, are created to be in harmony with each other. The Kachina dancers and masks that Hopi wore were intended to help maintain harmony in the world, preventing chaos from reigning, which may initiate the end of the world. In general, North American native communities displayed far less hierarchy in the relationship between spirits/gods and humanity, emphasizing connective relationships that keeps a type of balance or harmony.<ref>For more on native North American beliefs, see: Sullivan, L.E., 2003. <i>Native religions and cultures of North America</i>. Continuum, New York. </ref>
====Wider Significance====
In ancient Old World societies and even many in Central and South America, hierarchy of the gods and power relationships between the gods and humanity established how people saw their place in the world and how they could relate to the gods. Purpose and meaning of life were justified following the relationship of humanity with gods. These relationships do not only reflect belief systems but also how societies themselves were structured. In North America populated by pre-Columbian Native groups, many different tribal groups did not have clearly defined hierarchies of political or social power. This is reflected in their religious beliefs where spirits and gods did not exist in a strict hierarchy. On the other hand, societies with clearly defined classes and social hierarchies had well defined hierarchies in understanding humanity, its purpose, and how it fit with the gods. Aztec and South American societies generally had defined hierarchies of power and relationship of humanity with gods, where these gods even required regular human sacrifice. Harmony and balance in nature and life are common themes of purpose in east Asia and North America, but hierarchies of power and separation of power between humans and the gods is more evident in east Asia, more comparable to other parts of the Old World.
====Summary====
In religious doctrines where it has been recorded spanning human history, including cases prior to the rise of modern monotheistic religions, defined power structures between gods and humanity are an important them. This defines the purpose and reason for life. However, reason and purpose of life are not strong themes in all religious ideas. We see that balance and harmony in nature could, in itself, be a key purpose that defines the relationship among the spirits/beings with humanity.
