The basis of religion - and hence human behaviour

- is imagination :
people believe that imaginary minds without bodies
are more powerful - and know more -
than minds with bodies;

and the bodies of gods physically conceived
(Quetzalcoatl, Ganesha, Anubis)
are imaginary, often monstrous.
The powerful are very fearful.,
and, as for the rest of us,
there is nothing so comforting
as the abandonment of reason
for mindless idolatry.