I am inclined to believe the latter. I think human beings have used the supernatural to explain things that they do not understand and to lessen the fear of death. To me, it appears that men desperate for power and control wrote down what they expect everyone else to do.
If you are supposed to have a personal relationship with God, why give a pentence to the Church? Why are there so many allusions to conforming to the government, king, priests, etc.? Why have none of the prophecies come true (to an indisputable degree)? Religion is comfort food for those who cannot accept that we really may be insignificant.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.