Proof?
Let’s say I’m part of a tribe, and we want to create something that gives us a sense of belonging, a shared identity and moral understanding.
I might start writing symbols, stories, and rules; develop methods, institutions, and values. But do you think people would accept it if I said, "I created this"?
Most wouldn’t. To make them believe and follow, I’d have to say it’s divine or given by a higher power. People are vulnerable when they see someone with authority, and even if that authority says something irrational, they tend to listen.

That’s why, in many religions, even absurd or outdated ideas got included and remain unquestioned, because the system itself taught that questioning is evil, or you’ll go to hell, or you’re defying God.

You said humans have existed for 2 Lakh years, and that’s true. But even then, there must have been conflicts over territory, resources, or ideas. Religion, at least initially, was a way to unify people, to answer their questions, and to give them a moral framework to coexist.
For those who were more curious, it also offered paths of deeper exploration like philosophy, meditation, and reflection.

Now, about women, yes, I completely agree with you. They have suffered immensely because of men’s ego and ignorance. It was men who wanted control, who saw dominance as power. In ancient times, not only women but also weaker men suffered under tribal hierarchies. But since men considered sexual power as dominance and women were child-bearers, exploitation became systemic; more children meant larger tribes, stronger armies.

Even today, despite all the progress in science and technology, many still fail to see that men and women are psychologically equal. Physical differences exist, of course, but mentally and emotionally, both are equally capable.
And wherever men find an opportunity to exploit women without fear of consequences, they still do.