In the clues section, we look for clues to the answers to the big questions of God and meaning in life. Each topic discusses the facts and arguments believers and unbelievers use to support their viewpoint - a world of philosophy and ideas in just a few pages!
- clues
- Summary page: hints of another dimension
- truth
- Can we ever know that something is true?
- belief systems
- 4 types of belief systems.
- the universe
- Does there have to be a reason for everything?
- it looks like it was designed
- Fundamental universal laws which are finely tuned for life.
- a rare earth?
- How our Earth is just right for life.
- life
- Are we created or evolved, or both?
- science, faith and rnb
- How rnb has approached these questions.
- evolution and design
- Background information on evolution & intelligent design.
- people
- Are human beings special, or just advanced animals? (Is there anybody in there?)
- are our brains like computers?
- Neuroscience, human-ness & free will.
- right and wrong
- Are some things truly right or wrong?
- evil
- Does an evil world prove there can be no God?
- road tests
- How do different beliefs work out in practice?
- two stories
- Choosing between the two stories that explain everything.
basic belief systems
If you consider two basic beliefs - God and meaning in life - it is obvious there are four possible combinations.
theism - belief in God and meaning
Theists believe one or more gods exists. Most theists would be followers of a particular religion, although a small number are deists, who believe in a god who is not involved with the human race, and therefore not part of any revealed religion.
If a god exists, then it is likely that he/she/it/they will have a major impact on the believer's life and other beliefs. Most theists would have a strong belief in a set of values and ethics on which to build their lives, and a sense of purpose in pleasing their god and achieving a blessed life in this world and in the next.
Most religions in the west and middle east believe in one God who is powerful, good and the creator of the world. There are generally only small differences in their main ethical beliefs, though some significant differences in their religious observances and how they believe we can earn God's favour. Most believe their religion is the only true way to know God.
Of the eastern religions, Hinduism is polytheistic, and many of the others are not specifically theistic. Eastern religions tend to be less dogmatic, and more open to individual interpretation, variations in belief and syncretism (the combining of elements of more than one religion).
All these, and several other religions, are discussed in more detail in a summary of world religions.
humanism - disbelief in God and belief in meaning
"Humanism is a comprehensive lifestance that upholds human reason, ethics, and justice, and rejects supernaturalism, pseudo science and superstition. Humanism entails a commitment to the search for truth and morality through human means in support of human interests. In focusing on our capacity for self-determination, humanism rejects transcendental justifications, such as a dependence on faith, the supernatural, or divinely revealed texts." Wikipedia.
"..... based upon the premise of the irreducible value and dignity of all individuals and on the vital importance of personal freedom, humanists believe in solving the social and economic problems of society by following logical arguments where they lead and having the moral courage to embrace their own conclusions. Thus humanists are fundamentally opposed to all dogma, as we believe that the inflexible assertion of purported fact is the antithesis of reasoned argument." Humanist Society of NSW.
Humanists thus generally reject a belief in God as being 'unreasonable', but respect each person's right to hold their own personal beliefs. Humanists have a strong belief in human freedom and social justice. Their morality stems from their belief that all human beings should be treated fairly. There are Humanist associations in many countries - e.g. USA, UK and Australia.
There seems to be a growing trend among atheists, perhaps following the lead of Oxford University biologist and author Richard Dawkins, to modify the humanist belief in tolerance with strong statements about the adverse effects of religion and the need to remove the delusion of religious belief from the human race. This aim seems to have become a major life purpose for some atheists. It will be interesting, though perhaps not pleasant, to see if this attitude takes over from more tolerant humanism.
nihilism - no belief in God and no meaning
These beliefs are not nearly as clearly defined as the ones above, but they generally have in common a scepticism about the existence of God and of rationality and ethics.
Wikipedia says: "Nihilism is a philosophical position which argues that the world, and especially human existence, is without objective meaning, purpose, comprehensible truth, or essential value. Nihilists generally believe all of the following: God does not exist, traditional morality is false, and secular ethics are impossible; therefore, life has no meaning, and no action is preferable to any other."
A nihilistic viewpoint may lead people to various beliefs such as existentialism (which tends to express nihilism in more philosophical or literary terms) and hedonism (if there is no god and no truth, we might as well please ourselves, so "whatever causes pleasure is right".
??? - belief in God but no meaning
I've put this in for completeness, but I don't know of any beliefs that fit in here - though perhaps deism (see above) and some superstitions may come close.
so what?
One or another of these beliefs may seem initially most attractive to you. In the clues section, I consider which of these beliefs and approaches to life makes the most sense of what we know about the universe and humanity.
variations on these basic beliefs
Some eastern religions (for example Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism) appear to be open or noncommital about the existence of God. They are perhaps more social, political or ethical philosophies than religions in the western sense, and thus may be closer to humanism in the above definitions.
Pantheism, the belief that god, or Gaia, is to be found within the universe, and thus all of the universe (and us) are part of god, is another variation. It may be considered to be part way between theism and humanism, because it is unclear if such a god is any more than a part of the universe.
A common belief for many people in the west today is to seek to find the 'god' within. It is hard to classify such individual beliefs, but they appear generally to be another form of humanism, but dressed up in quasi-religious language.
Indigenous Australians, native Americans, and many other cultures have a spirituality that seems at first to provide another alternative to the above beliefs. It would be arrogant for someone from a culture much removed from these to be too dogmatic, but these beliefs seem also to fit within the theism or pantheism categories.