As for religion, the universal is the elemental, not the ideal, so a spiritual absolute would be the essence of sentience, from which we rise, not an ideal of wisdom and judgement, from which we fell. More the light shining through the film, than the stories playing on it.

It is just that every culture needs ideals, creeds, codes, heroes, gods, to give it focus. Otherwise it breaks down. A center of gravity.

Morality is not an absolute, or it could not be transgressed, like a temperature below absolute zero. It is a code for a healthy society. The basis of which is collective responsibility, with rights as reward. When rights are ordained and responsibility is optional, it is downhill, as everyone grabs their slice and runs.

To the Ancients, monotheism equated with monoculture. One people, one rule, one god. Ancient Israel was a monarchy.

Democracy and republicanism originated in pantheistic cultures. The family and cycle of life as godhead/metaphor. The young god, born in the spring, of the old sky god and the earth mother.

Though by the age of the Olympians, tradition prevailed over renewal and Zeus didn't give way to Dionysus. Much as the old are often loathe to give way to the young.

The anarchies of desire, versus the tyrannies of judgement.

Which provided fertile ground for Christianity. Royal blood crucified for questioning authority and risen in the spring.

Jesus was all peace, love and turn the other cheek, except when it came to the moneychangers and that's when they crucified him.

Though by the time Rome adopted it as state religion, it too had started to calcify and so the monotheism provided validation for the Empire rising from the ashes of the Republic. With the origins of the Trinity shrouded in the Holy Ghost.

So monotheism provided the eschatological basis for the next 1500 years of monarchy. Divine right of kings.

When the West went back to democracy and republicanism, it required separation of church and state, culture and civics.

The problem with making God the moral policeman, was that as fear of God died, it left a moral void, as there was no organic code to replace it. So the Will to Power rose in that void. Yet those most adept at that, are the amoral assholes whose only code is might is right.

Which is where we are today.