By watching the stars the Babylonians decided whether to get married, plough the fields and go to war. Their philosophical beliefs were translated into very practical procedures.
The author appears to have a rudimentary understanding of ancient pantheons, their myths and what they actually signify, how they functioned - while it's well established that religions will manifest themselves in relation to the practical and social concerns of a culture (IE - agriculture, seasons, etc), this is not their sole role.
The archaic myths we know of, those written down leading up to the Classical era as well as the Norse, Saxon, Hindu and so on, are sophisticated symbolic explorations of the human psyche. In examining them we plumb the depths of their souls, we are told of their struggles and tragedies, as well as their triumphs.
Without examining myth, as well as today's world faiths, through this lens we cannot know a people, whether historical or of today. Without truly valuing their irrational beliefs and symbolism we cannot achieve understanding.
This is what the author lacks, and it biases his entire work.
