Actually not much has changed in the west. Sure we've gone from Chaos to God to Science. And sages have been replaced by priests who in turn have been replaced by scientists. The upperclass has shifted several times and revolutions happened, but in the end, the people, whoever that may be at any given time, still believe whatever they are being told.

when asked: How did they universe come into being? they respond with what they have been told: wether that is Chaos or God or Big Bang. They dont actually know what they are talking about.

And the stories get more fantastic over time too... I mean, from simple forces that collided, to the shaping hand of one all powerfull being to, expansion from nothing into vast space in just moments, dark energy and much more.

One person said he believed Christianity because its story was so absurd it had to be true. I guess he would say the same about the big bang theory if he had lived now.

I mean does anyone, and i'm including (all but) the brightest scientists, have a clue what happened? And what happened before that? They just answer with that is an obsolete question. Sounds a lot like a big fat "I DON'T KNOW!!!" to me.

The only thing that changed is that you can now question authority, resulting in no real authority at all. i doubt wether that is such a big improvement.