Given the choice between the "tree of life" (representing God reliance) and the "tree of knowledge of what is good and what is bad" (representing self-reliance), all human beings without exception opt more easily and naturally for the latter.
Worship of God, as he really is, requires obedience to his known commandments and knowledge and active faith. Worship of foreign gods, on the other hand, is their disobedience and following of man-made and stale religions which are fully exploited by leaders.