gods were metaphors for the different social, cultural, psychological or emotional forces that the ancients didn't fully understood or control. aries the god of wrath or aphrodite the goddess of love/procreation, for example, were one of the oldest gods that even animals "worship" them (animals kill and procreate). this is why gods are said to be eternal, they existed even before humanity came to consciousness.
a hierarchy of Gods (monotheism) is the idea that there is an absolute ideal or value, and that there is one ideal that should be strived for by a culture. this unites people and without a hierarchy of values (no God to follow) whether personal or societal, there is directionlessness and purposelessness - having no conviction (or faith) on what values or principles should be held above all else.
i am a christian for a lot of reasons but one is the belief that the one true God "resides" in each of us (divine individual) and each individual is responsible for the salvation of mankind. so we must do our part, to carry our cross. to suffer and die (psychologically), if need be. like the kid who learns more about the world and his former naive identity die in the process to be reborn stronger and mature.
we must avoid "sin" to save the world (which came from greek word "hamartia" that means "to miss your mark").
