clues

waves

Looking inside & outside ourselves to find truth and meaning

starfish

on this page

This is a summary page for the clues section. Here you can find an outline of arguments and ideas, based on the evidence in the universe and the human race, that might help us know whether there is a god, or we should live our lives without believing.

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!

truth?

Is it too ambitious to think we can find any truth about the meaning of life? Are all ways of looking at beliefs equally valid?

Cow cartoon

Cows in Philosophy 1.001

We believe some things are really true, like the laws of mathematics, what we see with our own eyes, and (sometimes) what we see on TV and in the newspapers. Our lives are full of times when we believe things which cannot be proven, such as trusting people and falling in love.

Do any of the ideas about life, happiness, meaning, God, or ethics actually conform to the reality of the universe? People have explored three main answers:

  • Theists generally believe that there is truly a God or gods, and that fact gives life and the universe a purpose (if we connect to that God).
  • Humanists tend to believe there truly is no god, but there is purpose in self-realisation, or loving our fellow humans or building a better world.
  • Others believe there truly is no god and no intelligent meaning - we may have a negative and fatalistic view of the world (nihilism), or pursue pleasure (hedonism).

So we can live for God, or humanity, or ourselves, or nothing. Do life and the universe give us any clues about which of these is most likely to be true? Read on and see for yourself!

Read about truth in more detail.

the universe

a big bang?

The universe has not always been here. It began with the big bang, which created time, space, matter and energy out of nothing. So what caused the big bang? If it was God, what caused God?

Perhaps things that have always existed don't have a cause, and things which have a beginning do have a cause. If so, then there seem to be 3 options for the origin of the universe:

  • The universe has always existed. However while many scientists once thought this, it is no longer believed: the universe had a start at the big bang and is slowly running down.
  • The universe began with no discernible cause. This is the common scientific view, though it goes against all we know of cause and effect
  • Something that has always existed caused the universe which is clearly not eternal. This "something" might be anything, but one obvious option is an eternal God, who lives outside of time, created time, and doesn't need a cause.

like a watch?

In the last 30 years, scientists have identified many unusual facts about the universe which make it suitable for life, and which appear to have an infinitesimal probablility of occurring by chance.

Some say that the "fine-tuning" of the universe for human life clearly indicates design by a god. Others argue that the apparent design is just the outcome of natural laws we don't understand yet. Another theory, currently gaining favour, is that there are zillions of universes (termed a "multiverse") and just ours successfully produced life - however some scientists reject this idea as non-science, because even its proponents agree that it can never be tested.

Thus Physicist Paul Davies wrote: "These rules look as if they are the product of intelligent design. I do not see how that can be denied. Whether you wish to believe they really have been so designed, and if so by what sort of being, must remain a matter of personal taste." (Davies has recently proposed a novel alternative view, that the future evolution of life influenced the early stages of the universe in the past, but so far few are impressed with the idea.)

so, is there a reason for everything?

A few decades ago, it might have seemed that science had made all other explanations of the purpose of the universe obsolete. But it doesn't seem like that any more. The majority of scientists still support a naturalistic explanation, but there is more open-ness to the God option.

Read about the origin and design of the universe in more detail.

life

Since Charles Darwin published "The Origin of Species" and proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection, natural science has not been the same. And neither has belief in God been the same. While evolutionary science, strictly speaking, cannot address the topic of the existence of God, many scientists, and many other people, have felt they no longer needed to believe in a god to explain life and the universe. Not only does evolution appear to explain everything without God, but it suggests to some that life on earth is not the work of an intelligent designer.

the theists fight back?

Theists have taken several views about evolution.

  • Creationists have tried to argue (mostly quite unsuccessfully) that the basic findings of evolution are simply not true. Evolution still has some unanswered questions (as noted in evolution and design), but the evidence seems to support its main story.
  • Proponents of "intelligent design" accept the broad sweep of evolution but argue that natural processes alone are unable to explain the changes from one species to another required by evolution. But, while many aspects of evolution remain to be worked out, and intelligent design has the support of a number of experienced scientists, it has not so far been able to demonstrate its assertions in a scientific manner.
  • A third (and probably the largest group of scientists who believe in God) argue that evolution and their faith in God are not in conflict, and accept both as true. Some believe that God designed the universe to produce human life, then let nature take its course, while others believe God's involvement is subtle, and only discernible by faith.

the origin of life

The origin of life presents special problems for evolution, because it is virtually impossible to demonstrate with any rigour what actually occurred, and there are as yet no compelling theories of how life may have arisen. Scientists remain confident of finding answers, but some may feel these answers will be debatable because many scientists are committed to finding a naturalistic answer.

so what does it all prove?

It seems that evolution has weakened some of the arguments used to support belief in God, without proving anything definite either way. But evolution, without God, arguably leads to a belief that the meaning and sanctity of life, "true" standards of right and wrong, and human free will, are all illusions, conclusions which many may find hard to accept (for more on this see the next topic, "people").

Read more about life and evolution.

people

People matter - and so much of our popular culture tells us so. Love songs, films, literature and art commonly build on themes of 'true' love, heroic action, self sacrifice and concern for others. Counselling, law and medicine treat people as valuable. People generally want to feel of value in themselves, and respected by others; they want to be loved, and to love.

We believe we can make real choices, about what we believe, what we think is right, and how we will treat others. And be held responsible for those choices.

And people think. They argue, sometimes passionately, about what they believe to be true. They search for the truth about quantum theory and deep space, life and love. Science and argument are built on the basis that human reason can lead to true outcomes.

But if the universe has evolved randomly from nothing, it is hard to see how any of this could be true. We would be no more than the elements we are made from, a stage in evolution - some would say biological robots, whose choices and thinking are determined by our own brain chemistry. We might feel differently, especially when we are in love, but it would be emotion not logic that would tell us so.

If we believe that there is no larger meaning in the universe, and the human race is merely a happy (?) result of evolutionary processes, we may have to let go of some of our cherished illusions about human freedom, personality and rationality. And generally, we don't want to do that - the world seems to need more humanity, not less.

So perhaps there is in reality some meaning and reality beyond the physical universe discoverable by science? Does the existence of God explain more, or not?

Read more about people.

right and wrong

We all make ethical judgments. We believe some things are wrong and others are right, and we can get very upset when we see unethical behaviour cause harm and distress. We have no doubt that Adolf Hitler was wrong in his "final solution" and in World War II, or that the behaviour of pedophiles, serial killers and rapists is utterly wrong. But what makes such things wrong?

Some believe ethics are arbitrary, that our communities have evolved sanctions against behaviour that is harmful to the common good.  But what do we conclude if a community chooses a warlike or inhumane course and it is successful? Does that thereby make it ethically "right"? Would Hitler have been "right" if he had won the war? I don't think we can live with such a view of ethics.

The alternative view of ethics is that right and wrong are as fundamental to the truth of the universe as is gravity, except we have a choice whether we obey the ethics or not.

One thing is for sure. We will continue to make ethical judgments, but on what basis? If we choose the utilitarian view of ethics, it is likely that, more and more, people will be inclined to disregard them if they can see an advantage in it. The only way out of this dilemma seems to be for society to believe that ethics are actually "true". This after all has been the view throughout most of history.

But if that is the case, where does this truth come from? Traditionally, ethics have been seen as originating with God, and it is hard to see any other source. Thus we may have to choose between believing in a god, or in ethics that are subjective.

Read about right and wrong in more detail.

god and evil

The world is full of war, starvation, racial prejudice, death, political dishonesty, etc, etc. How could a good god have created a world that is in such a mess? Doesn't this indicate that there is no god?

This is perhaps the strongest argument against the existence of a good god. Here are five questions that may help us think through this issue.

  1. Would you be willing to give up your freedom of choice to see an end to human evil? Perhaps the only way to stop human evil is to take away people's freedom of choice, but does anyone want that? Perhaps the amazing gift of life and freedom is worth it all?
  2. Are danger and hurt inevitable parts of living in a physical world? Some people thrive on it, and would find life without risk a bit tame. Most of us find great beauty in the same world that throws up earthquakes and tidal waves. Perhaps we can't have one without the other?
  3. But granted all this, surely a god could have retained the good aspects (freedom, beauty) and reduced the bad aspects? At the very least, the extent of evil in the world is very troubling.
  4. Is the world really so bad? Despite the pain and anguish of this life, most of us hang on to life and cherish it. Perhaps, despite all the arguments and doubts, our actions are saying that life is good, and the good definitely outweighs the bad?
  5. How can we say the world is evil?The argument that a good god could not create such a bad world depends on the world being really evil. If the world was just inconvenient or unattractive, all we could say is that God is not convenient to us - hardly a telling argument! But it is hard to see how we can call anything truly right or wrong without a god (as noted above). So it seems that the strongest argument against God may require him to exist before it can have strength.

It is hard to escape the feeling that something is wrong with the world, and to blame God or disbelieve in a god because of that. But the above questions take a lot of of the sting out of the argument - it is hard to maintain the rage against God without a strong basis for our views about right and wrong, and in a world where we clearly gain such pleasure and joy.

Read about God and evil in more detail.

road tests

How do theism and non-belief work out in life and in society? There's a lot of commonly quoted information out there, such as:

  • Theists throughout history have been well motivated to bring about positive social change and alleviation of suffering. In the west, christians started hospitals, schools and trade unions, and have been in the forefront of assisting diadvantaged people and nations, right up to the present day. Non-believers and theists have been part of the modern day environmental and civil rights movements, but there would be some social reform movements where non-believers have played the dominant part.
  • Theism has been responsible for horrific genocide and killing (one estimate is that christianity, or governments of apparently christian states, has caused 30 million deaths). However atheism, or governments of apparently atheistic states, has been held responsible for more than double this number of deaths. In defence of both systems of belief, it can be argued that it was not atheism or theism itself which caused most of these deaths, but evil and self serving governments and powers which were nominally atheistic or theistic.
  • Theism provides meaning and comfort to more than half of the world's population, and surveys and testimonies indicate that theists are generally happier, healthier and saner than the average in the population. Atheism too has many satisfied customers, who point accusingly at theistic religions' propensity to interfere in the lives of others, oppose progress and curtail freedoms.

It is not really possible to make an objective conclusion on which belief works out best in practice. But two conclusions can be drawn:

  1. Theism offers the most at its best, and is the most dangerous at its worst.
  2. Both beliefs are at their best when followed by altruistic individuals, and at their worst when co-opted by nationalistic movements, profit and greed, or power-hungry people.

Read more about how theism and non-belief have affected people and the world.

conclusions

We seem to have a choice between two different stories.

one possible story

There is no god, matter is all there is. For all we know, the universe might never have existed, or it might have been completely different. Life originated by chance, and we have evolved to suit the conditions on earth. Believing in a god is just a delusion. There is no "bigger purpose" or meaning in life, no objective standard of morality, and our freedom to choose is illusory. Human beings are just "meat robots" who have consciousness that allows us to realise this, and emotions that allow us to feel the force of this conclusion.

If this story is true, we have to determine our own purpose in life and our own ethics. Some would say we should leave the world a better place (humanism), others that we should enjoy it while we can (hedonism), others that despair is the only reasonable response (nihilism).

another possible story

Alternatively, we may believe that there was meaning in the universe all along. Behind evolution there is a supreme being, who created the universe and set it up so that human life was formed. A god who perhaps did this for the purpose of giving us life, freedom and his love. A god who makes himself known through his creation, through our inner sense of right and wrong, through a sense that there is more to life than what science tells us, perhaps even through some direct revelation.

This story may therefore give a basis for hope, truth, ethics, beauty, meaning and purpose. This too requires faith, however it is not faith out of nothing, but faith in something. Believers thus may well have a sense of fulfilment which many non-believers may lack, however they face many challenges.

the end of the matter?

No-one can prove which story is true. There are some good reasons to believe there may be a god who gives meaning to life, and some difficulties with that belief. In my opinion, the reasons to believe seem to be more fundamental than the difficulties.

It's a choice we all make, either consciously and deliberately, or by the way we live.

  • Go back to the reason & belief home page, or make a comment on the forum.