The Unimaginable World Without God

Imagine a world where the figure of God is unknown. The Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, and the Salem witch trials would never have taken place. Northern Ireland would retain its peace, and Yemen's suffering would be alleviated. Without the fear of divine retribution, human sacrifices in cultures like the Aztecs and Mayans would be inconceivable.

The absence of a supreme being would impact not just the prevalence of conflicts, but also areas like human biology and medicine. Post-mortems would be conducted without reservation, greatly advancing medical knowledge. LGBT individuals would face fewer societal barriers and women's rights movements might have occurring much sooner.

Without divine guidance, the moral standards of society would likely be shaped by human nature and societal norms, rather than the dictates of religious leaders or archaic texts. However, humans have an innate sense of something greater, even in the absence of explicit knowledge of God. The beauty of creation, the beauty of nature, and the intrinsic knowledge of something beyond us, drives this sense of wonder and need to seek answers.

Moral Standards and Divine Guidance

Our current moral standards, rooted in the commandments given by God, would be non-existent. The laws against murder, rape, fraud, and infidelity, would not be universally upheld without the understanding of divine guidance. Without the fear of divine accountability, people might act in ways that gratify their immediate desires, leading to a chaotic and unpredictable society. Without the influence of God, the primary purpose of life might merely be to survive and procreate, with death marking the ultimate end of existence.

Religious Influence and Alternative Deities

If humans were never told about an almighty creator, it is likely that we would still follow other deities, primarily those of ancient cultures with significant influence at the time, such as the Roman or Egyptian gods. Given the dominance of these belief systems during the Bronze and Iron Ages, it is plausible that they would have woven their deities into the fabric of society, much as they once did with the Jewish faith.

Although the concept of man being the ultimate authority over gods was a rare idea in the ancient world, it is unlikely that theism, and belief in deities, would have been entirely replaced by atheism. The idea of humanity rising above or beyond gods was not a prominent influence at the time, making the concept of belief in no gods seem alien to most people of that era. This makes it difficult to imagine a society where atheism would have thrived, particularly given the cultural and emotional satisfaction that many derive from belief in a higher power.

I cannot say for certain what might have inspired an episode of Star Trek: The Original Series where the Roman Empire continued into the 20th century. However, it is fascinating to consider how such a scenario might have played out, with a sustained and uninterrupted cultural influence that could have profoundly affected the course of human history.