The Gods We Build: Truth, Power, and the Architecture of Belief

Throughout history, civilizations have risen and fallen under the watchful gaze of gods. From Zeus atop Olympus to the solitary God of monotheism, humanity has shaped, worshipped, and eventually discarded its deities. But what if gods are not eternal beings, but human inventions—designed to govern, to console, and to control?

In The Gods We Build, Pierre Lagrenat presents a provocative exploration of the origins and evolution of belief. Blending history, psychology, and philosophy, this book unearths the mechanisms by which gods are created, why faith persists, and how religions have served as both the foundation of civilizations and the tools of their rulers.

• Why do humans create gods?


• How do belief systems shape morality, power, and authority?


• If religions claim to be eternal, why do they change?


• And if gods are products of the human mind, what comes after them?

This book is not an attack on faith, but an inquiry into its architecture—challenging readers to question, to think, and to uncover the truths that lie beyond divine narratives. If history shows that every god eventually fades, the ultimate question remains: what will take their place?