i firmly believe that these are just retellings from old stories spread around the campfire. the myths, legends and fables were (eventually) written down by someone who could write - much like the daft medieval songs we have today - and a large dose of embellishment added to make it more (un)believable to the fawning masses.
what better way to appease them by saying, as jno has said ' the new god does the same as the old god, only better ' and whats more, he aint foreign or a funny animal headed weirdo, he is just like you, in fact, you are just like him. its the way he wanted it. and if you behave and bend to his feet every day and make (force) everyone else to do the same, then he will be pleased and you will join him in the heavens when you's dead - as opposed to not doing this and burning in eternal flames with a demon holding a pitchfork and asking you to pick up the soap (oh, sorry, thats catholic school isnit).
its all very simple really. the hardest part to fathom is the belief factor.