For me it is hard to imagine that religions of the world are the result from political and economical hardships. From my understanding hardships are what form the behaviors and culture of the people who practice religion. I do think it is easy to say that people in hardships will look for any kind of relief from a form of suffering. It could be family or religion. The issue comes when many start to depend on an institution they are losing drive to support themselves. This to me is where the power comes from. When people choose to depend on another they are giving power to that entity. Letting that entity forced on some law, creed or punishment for the people who are depending on food, protection, or access to medical supplies. This to me is how power is taken away from one and given to another. I think people are able to inflict hardships to get some to turn to their cause, being political, economical, or even religious.
