The statement that men created God is a central argument within various atheistic, historical, and sociological perspectives on the origins of religion. Conversely, a core tenet of most major religions is that God is the eternal creator of humanity and the universe. Arguments that Humans Created God Explanation of the Unexplained Early humans often created supernatural beings with human-like characteristics to explain natural phenomena they couldn't understand or control, such as thunder, lightning, earthquakes, and plagues. Managing Fears and Insecurities Some historians and writers, like Yuval Noah Harari, argue that the concept of a god or gods came into existence to help people deal with the uncertainties, fears, and insecurities of life, providing a "straw to hang on" in times of trouble. Anthropomorphism Across cultures and history, humans have assigned human attributes to their deities (anthropomorphism), leading to the argument that we have created gods in our image, rather than the other way around. Social and Political Control The creation of religion and the concept of God has also been linked to a need for an external moral order and a means of social control or manipulation by powerful groups, such as the priesthoods of ancient empires.