Humanity's Genies

Humans have believed in a higher power for a very long time, long before written history began, and have tried to reach out and call out to this power both in thanksgiving and praise as well as in their times of need with cries for help. During times of trouble, these cries have come from every corner of the globe for as long as man can remember, pleas asking this God or the gods for reprieve and relief from the agony and pain that this world burdens them with. Many people and cultures have taught that it has not always been this way; that at one time, life was not burdened with pain and agony and that someday in the future all pain will again disappear and that tears will no longer flow. Why does all life suffer and die? Why does this higher power allow this agony to be? Does it know or even care? Are these prayers prayed in vain? Does any single religious group gain from these prayers more than any other? Does it even matter?