Full Idea
Much of ancient mythology is a legal contract in which humans promise everlasting devotion to the gods in exchange for mastery over plants and animals.
Gist of Idea
Mythologies are usual contracts with the gods, exchanging devotion for control of nature
Source
Yuval Noah Harari (Sapiens: brief history of humankind [2014], 12 'Silencing')
Book Reference
Harari,Yuval Noah: 'Sapiens: a brief history of Humankind' [Vintage 2014], p.236
A Reaction
[He cites the first book of Genesis] So how readily do you swith allegiance, if someone else's gods are more successful? Why be loyal a loser. It should be like shopping - but I bet it wasn't.