Do gods fill in the blanks of the mysteries of nature?
Thor made thunder, until we understand how nature really does. From that moment on Thor has been moved from religion to mythology. Has it always been the case with the gods, and will continue to be well? When we come to understand how the universe and the nature of man actually came into existence, what kind of gods do we need yet?
You make an excellent point. Since prehistoric times, man has always given what he can not understand the "gods" and supernatural powers. We learned that gravity, not the sun god Helios, the sun reveals to move across the sky. And we recongize it land and not the sun that moves, a truth which the Church persecuted Galileo and murdered many others. We know that actions have caused mad by brain injury or mental illnes not demon possession (although most fundamentlists still believe that). Religious people have always believed in science and even persecuted and murdered those who practice it. They have always fought against scientific knowledge, as they do today with the evolution because it challenges their power and authority. Because knowledge has become the religion became less necessary to explain the inexplicable. It there is always belief in gods or God, but I believe that religion will become less important as time passes and things which are still mysteries become explained.