Primitive societies without religion have never been found.

William Dean Howells, wise observer of humankind, declared with certainty: “Primitive societies without religion have never been found.” In this statement lies a truth as ancient as fire itself—that wherever human beings have gathered, they have lifted their eyes to the heavens, sought meaning in the storm, and whispered to the unseen powers. From caves to temples, from desert sands to mountain peaks, religion has always been the companion of human life, shaping its fears, its hopes, its morals, and its mysteries.

The ancients knew this well. Long before philosophers wrote their wisdom, the people of the earth painted on the walls of caves, leaving behind sacred images of animals and hunters. These were not mere decorations, but prayers, offerings to the unseen, rituals for survival and meaning. From the shamans of Siberia to the priests of Egypt, from the oracles of Greece to the sages of India, no society has lived without the sacred. Howells’ words remind us that the instinct for religion is not an invention of a few, but the universal inheritance of all.

Consider the tribes of the Pacific Islands, far removed from the great empires of the world. When European explorers arrived, they found no palaces, no armies, no libraries—but they found altars, chants, and ceremonies. The people honored spirits of sea and sky, weaving their lives with reverence for the divine. This is proof of Howells’ claim: though societies may lack writing, cities, or kings, none lack the sacred. Religion is as much a part of humanity as language, as family, as fire.

Why is this so? Because the human heart cannot bear the weight of existence without seeking meaning. Death stalks every tribe, storms destroy every village, hunger gnaws at every people—and in the face of such uncertainty, humanity turns to prayer, to myth, to gods. Religion becomes not only fear’s refuge, but also hope’s foundation. It creates laws, binds communities together, and shapes the story by which life is endured and celebrated. Thus, wherever there are humans, there is religion, for the soul itself hungers for transcendence.

And yet, the religions of the world differ vastly. Some bow before many gods, some before one, and some before none but the great spirit that pervades all things. But the essence is the same: the search for the eternal. The Aztec who offered sacrifices to the sun, the Christian who kneels before the cross, the Buddhist who meditates upon emptiness—all testify to the same truth that Howells proclaims: no people are without the sacred, for no heart is without longing.

The lesson, then, is profound. If every people in every time has turned to religion, then it is not to be dismissed as mere superstition, but to be understood as a central pillar of humanity. Even those who abandon formal faith still seek meaning, still create rituals, still long for transcendence. To understand religion is to understand ourselves, our fears, our hopes, our destiny.

Practical actions follow. Do not scorn the faiths of others, but study them, for in their songs and stories you will find mirrors of your own soul. Seek the wisdom hidden in every tradition, for though symbols differ, the human yearning is the same. And if you struggle with belief, do not dismiss it entirely, but ask: What meaning do I seek? What truth do I hunger for? To ask such questions is to stand in the long line of seekers stretching back to the dawn of time.

O seeker, remember William Dean Howells’ wisdom: a society without religion has never been found, because a human without longing has never been born. To be human is to reach beyond, to pray, to sing, to build altars of word or stone. Let this truth humble you and inspire you. For in honoring the sacred, you walk not only your own path, but the eternal path of humanity itself.