The importance of believing in God
Part 4: It’s not an easy call, but our human nature tips us towards our need of God
On a more positive note for secularists, we must be fair and say that they are able to marvel at the wonder of life just as religious people do. As we learn more about the universe, we are astounded and enthralled by what we discover. The riches of civilisation and the uplifting gifts of human society are truly wonderful – and to be wondered over. However, secularists can never know the intimate relationship that believers experience with God – so full of love, peace and joy, imparting comfort, strength and guidance, and instilling life with purpose and meaning simply through their relationship with God – rather than through enjoying some material advantage of the physical universe. Moreover, this relationship is precisely the thing that can never be lost, and which countless believers testify can become richer and more fulfilling the more that the material world becomes cold and hostile. Yes, secularists may choose a noble philosophy of life, but they are also free to “just go shopping”, and, given what we know about human nature, we suspect that a large majority will just think about themselves, most of the time. Yes, religious people are often not far behind in this self-centredness, but at least their beliefs contain an intrinsic imperative to care for others.
Both the secular and religious view can become the basis of community and world action for justice. Secularists have the powerful image of the world seen from space – our global village, home to us all; beautiful and precious, to be cherished, cared for and shared by all. Religious people have exactly the same views – but simply add in another layer of belief that this world is a precious gift of a God of love, and a responsibility to look after as good stewards on his behalf. And it is this that gives humanity the responsibility to live up to God’s standards rather than misusing our freedom in selfish pursuits.
There is an intense argument to be had: religious people have had thousands of years to “get the world right” and have hardly done a brilliant job. Yet secular ideologies show little evidence of being better; they give free reign to human selfishness that religion at least makes some attempt to curb; and, in practice, the most murderous regimes in history have tended to be secular ones. We must also beware of judging previous ages by the values of our own. Many of the principles and values which all people of goodwill have now adopted had simply not been invented till recently. We should not blame people for not doing things that they hadn’t even conceived of – especially as it’s reasonable to argue that it has taken the course of history to enable us to now conceive of them, and that would have been impossible in a previous age. My own view is that the problem does not lie in the weakness of religion, but in the weakness of human nature – which is precisely what religion acknowledges – and hence our need for God’s help. If human beings fully implemented the teachings of the great world religions, then we would be as close to an earthly paradise as you can get. Secularists might want to argue that if only everyone would take up Mr Dawkins’ vision then that would also produce an earthly paradise. There is much to debate here! Personally, I think that the religions have a deeper and sounder understanding of human nature, and so a better vision of what we should be working for – and, very importantly, how we should be working towards it. With God’s help, we might just have a chance; without it, I think we will fail.
Spiritual Devotion 