Many thousands of years ago, primitive humans made sacrifices and tributes to the Gods. They assumed that Droughts, and Floods, and such were caused by the God's displeasure with man, and that man could change the weather.
Not much has changed.
Primitive cultures are controlled by a priestly caste that claims special access to the gods. With life and death control over their subjects the priests make any claim that results in absolute obedience and sacrifice to them. Nothing has changed.