That isn't always the case, and is one of the driving themes of Miyazaki's games: unreliable narration and corrupted ideals. So, like yes; the "gods" are real but their power or God status isn't always what it appears to be. In some cases, the power people sought through their faith, brought them to total ruin when it wasn't all glitz and glamour as they were told. Like people who tried to become dragons but ended up as weird mutant half dragon things. Or Rosaria's Fingers that eventually turn into giant maggot things. Faith is very often rewarded with body horror in Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Elden Ring and even Sekiro.

I think Equip Load would have to be some kind of equation based on both. Strength allows you to lift an object. Endurance allows you to carry that object great distances before getting tired.

But str should affect your ability to hurt things with a punch even if you don't put a strip of leather over your knuckles (100% unarmed combat does basically nothing and isn't increased by STR; if you wanna punch things, you need at least a cestus).

Maybe it just means your bones take more force before they snap.