Monotheistic all-seeing gods predate and exceed surveillance-state observation

Evidence

The invocation of souls is interesting, a reminder that this is not the first generation to shape itself for an omniscient eye. What is an all-seeing God, capable of knowing our thoughts and intentions, if not the most effective surveillance tool ever invented? The genius of this form of religion is the way it seduces believers into performing purity in life in order to reap rewards after death. And unlike today’s surveillance state—which knows only what we type, say, and do—monotheistic gods claim to know our intentions as well. — Naomi Klein, Doppelganger, 182

Categorization

• CANDY: A compact, tweetable comparison: religion as the original surveillance technology, with the twist that gods knew intentions where cameras only see actions.
• XREF: connects to: Surveillance replaces God’s total knowledge as an inescapable observer — Shoshana Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, 1499