I asked a similar question on Wikipedia’s reference desks before, and the final response was something along the lines of “There is no answer. This is something people love to gab about and opine, but we really don’t know.” So, I am going to assume that there is no answer, and because of that, I am going to add this question to IMHO. I consider the question is a matter of opinion and best educated guesses.

Anyway, why are monotheistic religions so popular? With Christian Europe and Muslim Africa and the Middle East, there must be some sort of appealing factor to it, does it not? Why choose one god over many gods? Wouldn’t the belief of many gods be far more safer than the belief of one? Are there any cultures with complete disbelief of gods? Why is that so many cultures use nature to depict a god (i.e. the sun god, the sea god, the sky god, the death god)? What’s the big deal with the god’s gender? Why are some gods female and some gods male? If the gods can reproduce and their children grow up, then how come they never experience age or wither away (die)? Why do people believe that they are “punished” by a god? Have you ever believed that you were “punished” by a god? Maybe your mommy and daddy said you should put on sunblock before you go outside, but you failed to put it on and the blistering heat of the sun really damaged your skin so you got a sunburn. Then, for once, you thought, “OMG, my god is punishing me for disobeying my parents!” rather than, “Oh dear. I think I have a sunburn. Hope I don’t get melanoma.”