Some 2 million years ago the first primitive humans evolved into a separate species and through several more transitions finally became the species we are today.

Sometime during these transitions, we humans developed what distinguishes us from other animals, a consciousness of self – or, biblically, we ate from the Tree of Knowledge.

Ever since that time, our species has had an inordinate need to determine the whys and wherefores of our existence.

Since all of this began thousands of years before our present scientific age, before the true cause of natural forces were understood, our primitive forefathers concluded that supernatural beings, “gods” if you will, were the provocateurs.

Thereafter, many succeeding cultural groups mythically developed and subsequently worshiped their particular gods. A few thousand years ago, one particular tribe advanced the idea that instead of each natural force being ruled by a particular member of a family of gods, that there was just one God–period.

This tribe, like all such tribes before, created myths concerning his creation and his governance of the world–in fact, they borrowed some of their mythical stories, such as the flood, from preceding tribal myths.

Again, a couple of thousand years pass and the man Jesus appeared on the scene.

By his preaching, he upset the ruling priests and leaders, and they conveniently arranged to have him tried as a criminal and subsequently executed. His followers, mightily impressed by his preaching and other deeds, elevated him to the position of “Son of God.”

Some 60 or so years later, four named followers supposedly wrote somewhat bewildering and questionable accounts of his mission, a life purporting to fulfill certain biblical prophecies.

Some years later, another “prophet” appeared on the world scene and made miraculous claims concerning his relationship with this God and suddenly another “branch” on this God tree was born.

All of these branches have many twigs, each claiming to be the only true representation of the whole.

If asked to believe in Zeus, one would question the asker’s sanity, yet there are those who demand belief in this latter. Thomas Harrison Thousand Oaks