I just finished watching the hogfather, a movie based on one of Terry Pratchet's more unusual books. Towards the end of the story, Death postulates that belief in things like the tooth fairy among children is necessary practice for belief in much bigger lies, like truth, justice, freedom and the soul cake duck. In order to seek truth, we must first believe there is something to seek. In order to obtain justice, we must first believe in it. In order to strive for freedom, we must first believe that we are born with it. Perhaps that's why the idea of karma originated. We create it by believing in it. If you end belief in truth, justice and freedom you destroy them.

Maybe equality would be a good one to add. Belief in equality is fairly recent, but it's existence is following close behind.