To make fast decisions we all calculate by guessing the (almost) right number of items. Why do we all have that ability? The scientists are puzzled... And who do they "call"?
Well, it seems that some other animals (other primates, birds and perhaps dolphins/whales) have this ability too. Some of the reasons are obvious - if you belong to a group it's an advantage to have a sense that tells you that something or someone belonging to that group is missing - this give the group better survival conditions.
By fast guessing a number of items, qualities or persons (at least almost correctly!) crises have been avoided from one generation to the next in increased manner. By knowing almost in advance that another (hostile) group would be equally matched by your own, there were no reason to go to war about resources.
This changed much by religions in mankinds later periods ( "The god is on our side"). Neandertals probably didn't believe in any gods judging in their favour, but lived in peace or harmony with their neighbours. Of course, they were chased off by the superstitious Sapiens. If the Neandertals believed in anything superstitious, it would be that the world was full of demons or spirits that all were hostile. Neandertals with less advanced societies were often prey of Nature - so why should they believe in any gods??
Inventions or ideas by the smart Sapiens showed on the other hand that life really could be good. The persons that made the inventions or discoveries and so on were soon forgotten... so who or what could be behind "all the good stuff in life"? Like Neandertals, they probably also believed in evil... so there had to be something (or someone!) that counteracted that evil... and what could that be, you wonder? You guessed it: Gods!
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/36601/title/FOR_KIDS_Math_and_our_number_sense
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