The Evolution of the Concept of God: From Primal Lightning to the Free Universe

The concept of God or gods is one of the oldest main pillars of human civilization. Along with the development of intellect and social structure, human understanding of this supreme power continues to evolve. From the raw power of nature to abstract, invisible entities, the journey of the concept of divinity reflects the spiritual and intellectual history of humanity.

Spiritual Dawn: Natural Forces and Formless Supernatural Power (Prehistory – c. 2000 BCE)

In the earliest stages of civilization, early humans often associated God or gods with forces controlling nature that were fierce and mysterious. The concepts known as Dynamism and Animism saw spirits or sacred power (mana) residing in objects or natural phenomena such as lightning, volcanoes, rivers, or large trees. Lightning was not just a natural phenomenon, but a manifestation of divine anger or power. In this view, what was worshipped was not a figure, but the essence of power, often considered formless, that controlled destiny.

The Classical Era: Anthropomorphic Gods (c. 2000 BCE – 300 CE)

Great civilizations brought radical changes in how the gods were viewed. In the Greek Era (c. 800 BCE – 146 BCE), the gods of Olympus, such as Zeus (God of Thunder and Sky), Apollo, and Hera, were depicted in human form (anthropomorphism) with all their emotions, conflicts, and even offspring. They were a divine family, with Zeus as the king of the gods who had divine children. In this polytheistic pantheon, the existence of many gods was absolute, each controlling specific aspects of life. This concept is generally Polytheism, with a large number of gods (a pantheon). This concept was then widely adopted and assimilated by Ancient Rome (c. 509 BCE – 476 CE), where the Greek gods were given Latin names (e.g., Zeus became Jupiter, Ares became Mars). Roman religion often focused on the gods’ function as protectors of the state and the military, but the essence of the gods being human-like and interconnected was maintained. In Ancient Egypt (c. 3100 BCE – 30 BCE), another great civilization developed a unique concept of gods, often in the form of human and animal hybrids (e.g., Ra, the sun god, with a human body and the head of a falcon, or Anubis, the god of the dead, with the head of a jackal). Their belief was polytheistic with a large pantheon of gods, although for a period (the Akhenaten era, c. 1353–1336 BCE), monolatry, or the exclusive worship of one god, Aten, briefly emerged.

Sacred Texts and Incarnations (c. 1500 BCE – 1st Century CE)

In Ancient India (Hinduism), the concept of god developed into a complex system where the Supreme God (Brahman) manifests through many deities. Major deities such as the Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva) are often depicted in human form or have earthly manifestations (avatara). In mythology, gods can have human offspring, such as Karna (the son of the Sun God, Surya) or Puntadewa/Yudhisthira (the son of the God of Dharma, Yama) in the Mahabharata epic, indicating a blood relationship between the divine and the human. A major shift towards the strict concept of Monotheism emerged from Ancient Israel (Judaism) (c. 1500 BCE onwards). Their God, Yahweh (or YHWH), is an invisible and transcendent entity, not represented by a physical form, a Single, All-Powerful force. He is the Creator who transcends nature and demands strict morality. In this era, the concept of a spiritual antagonist also emerged, namely Satan or Iblis (the Devil), who is the enemy of man and opposes the will of God.

Assimilation and the Single Concept (1st Century CE – 7th Century CE)

After the crucifixion of Jesus, the Post-Jesus Era (1st Century CE onwards) was marked by the spread of teachings rooted in Jewish Monotheism, but which underwent significant assimilation with the surrounding cultures, especially Greek philosophy and Roman culture. The concept of the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) began to be formalized. This concept, which affirms that Jesus is the Son of God and is consubstantial with the Father (established at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD), is considered a result of Roman cultural assimilation, as the Romans were accustomed to the concept of human-shaped gods and a tripartite set of main deities. In Christianity, God remains invisible, but has a ‘Son’ who incarnates as a man (Jesus). Leading up to 0–600 AD in Pre-Islamic Arabia, polytheism was still strong. The Quraysh community in Mecca worshipped many idols, including three main deities often called the “Daughters of Allah”: Al-Latta, Al-Uzza, and Manat. They were worshipped as intermediaries to Allah, who was considered the supreme god. However, in the Islamic Era (circa 610 AD and beyond), a purification of the Monotheistic teaching emerged. Islam asserts the concept of Tawhid (The Oneness of God) as absolute. Allah (God) is Invisible and Transcendent, not in human form, has no children (as this contradicts His oneness), and there is nothing similar to Him (the concept of Laisa kamitslihi syai’un). This concept rejects all forms of anthropomorphism and divine offspring.

Modern Abstraction: Non-Institutional Spirituality (17th Century – Present)

In the last two centuries, amid advances in science and philosophy, the concept of God has shifted again in the Western world. The emergence of Deism (17th–18th Century) positions God as the Great Architect (Watchmaker) of the universe who has established the laws of nature and then no longer intervenes (non-intervening) in world affairs. God exists, but is not bound by revelation or specific religious dogma. This concept continues to become “Freelance Monotheism” or spirituality that is unattached. In the eyes of some, God is the Universe or a cosmic force that governs all things (as in modern Pantheism or Panentheism). Individuals believe in the existence of a Single divine entity, but they are not bound by institutional religion, choosing their own spiritual path outside the confines of traditional dogma.

The evolution of the concept of divinity shows that human belief is not static, but a dynamic reflection of the search for meaning, power, and order in an ever-changing reality. From the feared power of lightning to the freely acknowledged Universe, this journey is an eternal saga between humanity and the Supreme Mystery.