The nature of God?
I’ve just finished reading a fascinating article on a possible reason that humans believe in higher powers. The theory is that we believe because we’re hardwired to do so. The article is quite in-depth and mentions the two reasons that we may be hardwired for religion:
- it’s an accidental byproduct of our evolution
- God gave us the ability to believe
People on both sides of the debate of whether or not God(s) exist(s) will certainly latch onto this as proof for their belief, but it will by no means settle it. As for me, I believe that option #2 is true — one of the reasons was pointed out in the article: it’s harder to be an atheist than it is to be a believer (and I’ve been both, so I know first-hand).
What about you?
March 5th, 2007 at 11:15 pm
I believe that I believe in God. I also believe that I cannot begin to comprehend the essence of God, that God is beyond anything I can imagine. For this reason, I tend not to concern myself with trying to “pin down” God.
I believe that I believe God’s compassionate spirit enlivens all things in the cosmos so that everything reflects, and participates in, the inconceivable goodness of God.
I believe that I believe God’s love for all Creation is unconditional. I believe that I believe God’s unconditional love is incomprehensible and terrifying.
I believe that I believe God’s place in the universe and in my heart are inconsequential and that my true purpose in life is to care for others and love and serve them and to strive to fix what is broken in my world.
March 6th, 2007 at 11:27 pm
I read that same article in the Sunday New York Times magazine. I am a Christian, but I don’t think that either answer is correct. Any intelligent, self-alware entity will natually wonder about its origin. Before science introduced us to natual selection, the belief in God seemed like a natual conclusion.
March 9th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
I’ve done a great deal of study on the subject of religion. My definition of god is “the energy which combines with mater to create life”. I think “god” is everywhere, but I do not believe god is all powerful or omniscient. I can not reconcile the idea of an all powerful god with suffering and injustice.