Interesting discourse and it certainly seems valid. It would be interesting to look at the Middle Eastern countries and why they have not progressed and in many ways are still living back 200 years ago as far as cultural progression goes. They may have automobiles and all the accouterments of civilization but didn't move along culturally at the same time. Has religion held them down?

OTOH, in this country, we have religious freedom which means a huge diversity. How has that diversity affected our ability to progress?

You are right, of course, that people look for someone to be in control, either God or themselves or something. But conspiracy theories to substitute for God? I have God but I still think the bankers and CEO's are quite capable of cooking up horrible things in order to control the flow of wealth and keep it in their own pockets.