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.
reason & belief has been following a logical sequence. We started off thinking about what makes us happy and unhappy (happiness), and found that some of the old fashioned values, like kindness, altruism, family, friendships and faith appear to be important components of a fulfilled life, and pleasure and wealth are less important. This may be a surprising conclusion for some.
So we questioned whether this was an accidental result of the evolution of human life, or whether these values were 'built in' to the universe (clues). Because how we behave is generally determined by what we believe, we asked whether any belief system could be considered to be 'true', and also which belief system seemed to work the best in real life.
We identified four different responses to life and the universe - (i) theism (if a god exists), and (ii) humanism, (iii) nihilism and (iv) hedonism (different responses if there is no god). Then we considered which of these belief systems best conformed to what we know about the universe, life and ourselves. We could have spent a lifetime of reading on these questions, but we have taken a brief overview.
So how do the belief systems stack up? Basically there are two different stories for us to consider.
if the universe has evolved out of nothing .....
.... 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. 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).
If this story is true, ethics can only be justified pragmatically, based on what we choose, or what society feels is most likely to preserve itself, and we would have no objective way of making ethical judgments about others.
A non-religious person would feel out of place in many countries of the world, where they might face persecution, but right at home with western culture. They would feel that the scientific explanation of the origins and complexity of the universe are correct and sufficient, and would be thankful to be free from the influence of false and dangerous religious philosophies. They would be content with making their own meaning and purpose in life. They might even feel that the austere scientific picture lends life a certain grandeur.
But perhaps the pessimists (nihilists) or the hedonists are right. Whatever sense of larger purpose human beings have developed has no basis, but just makes us feel better. The humanist belief, that purpose can be found in serving and improving the human race, seems to be trying to make something positive out of nothing, and thus seems to require a leap of faith. Many will take this step, but may find difficulty maintaining their faith in human nature at times.
So we can choose to 'think positive' and behave well, or have as much fun as we can, or get depressed. It makes no difference in the end, although it can make a lot of difference here and now.
or was there meaning in the universe all along?
.... and 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 scare us or threaten us a bit, but it may also give a basis for hope, truth, ethics, beauty, meaning and purpose. This story also 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, based on their belief that they have satisfied the requirements of God and thus will receive the due rewards. However they face many challenges.
How do they choose the 'right' religion (if there is indeed a right one), the 'right' denomination, sect or faction within that religion, and the "right" behaviour? And what happens if they have been born into a 'wrong' religion?
How do they avoid the excesses of religion - arrogance, intolerance, a closed mind, etc? Can they, and should they, blindly follow the leadership of their priest, imam, holy man, rabbi or bishop?
How do they explain the evil in the world if it was designed and created by a loving god?
They may also have to face active persecution if they are the minority religion in an intolerant country, and mild scorn in western secular countries.
how to judge between these two stories?
So, two stories, both possible, neither provable. Which one is true? Our conclusions may depend more on who we are than the truth of the matter, and remaining objective is very difficult. But the following questions may help you consider your response.
Is truth important to you? Or are you more concerned with how things work out practically?
If trying to find what is true is important to you, then you will want to consider all the different lines of argument in the previous chapters, and probably do some more focused reading. You'll probably feel that God is at least a possibility, maybe even a probability, so you'll probably also want to go on and read some analysis of the major world religions (see belief). However, if you are more interested in what works now, you may have to choose between what is easiest right now (probably either the belief you were brought up in, or a mild form of hedonism) or what will give greatest long term satisfaction, as outlined in happiness).
How much do you feel the need for an explanation of the origin of the universe?
Science and evolution are good at explaining the world since the big bang, but science can't go back beyond the big bang, so its explanations of the causes of the big bang don't look so convincing. If this issue is important to you, theism is probably the more logical belief, and you may wish to examine the various world religion (see belief) to see if any of them may be true.
How much do you trust science and/or philosophy?
The more you trust the assumptions and results of science, the more likely that you will opt for one of the non-theistic beliefs. However I'm inclined to think that if you trust the logic of philosophy, you will be committed to the truth of human logic, and theism appears to be the best explanation of that.
Are you determined only to believe in what can be proved and you can understand?
If so, it is virtually impossible for you to believe in a god, and you will certainly find non-theistic belief most suitable.
Do you feel the need for a sound basis for ethics, meaning and humanity?
We tend to take these things for granted, in which case, you would be free to choose any of the basic belief systems. But if you feel it is important to have a logical basis for these things, you are probably more likely to find it in theism.
Do you feel you need help from God, to give you freedom from guilt or a sense of meaning in life?
Most of us need help at some time or other, and it is no shame to recognise this. Many people come to a belief in God because they are willing to try faith as a way of dealing with issues in their life, including guilt, hopelessness, failure, low self esteem, etc. Those who feel more self-assured may not have the same motivation.
How much do you want to remain independent, and not beholden to a god?
This is, in a sense, the opposite motivation to the previous question, and is a critical factor for many people. If this is how you feel, it is unlikely any of the theistic arguments will have convinced you, and it is probably a credit to you that you have persevered this far.
a personal conclusion
I don't think any of the arguments amount to proof, but I certainly find a few of them very persuasive. The origin and design of the universe seem to be more satisfactorily explained by theism. I find the arguments that without God we have no 'true' ethics, and no basis for holding a high view of human life, to be very strong. The findings of surveys on what makes people happy are interesting, in that they suggest that theists are more likely to be happy than non-believers. So these arguments pre-dispose me towards theism.
The argument which I find most difficult in drawing this conclusion is the problem of the evil in the world. But I am not persuaded that humanism requires any less faith than theism.
If we move beyond blind faith or blind scepticism, the existence of God is an open question. But philosophy, observation and abstract thought can only take us so far. Proofs and disproofs of God are never fully convincing either way. (Why should God give intelligent and educated people an advantage?)
And even if we are convinced that a god must exist, we are still a long way from finding out what he or she is like and may expect of us.
I therefore believe that we need to look beyond these arguments for the final word on truth, to see if there is any more direct evidence of a God revealed in the major world religions.
next steps
Your conclusions here will determine how you should proceed.
If you conclude that either no god exists or it is irrelevant, you may wish to draw the line here. You may prefer to develop your ethics and humanness without belief in a god. In this case, you may find a future section of reason & belief, "going it alone", helpful in suggesting ideas for how you may choose to live.
Alternatively, if you conclude that a god exists, or you think it is worth trying to find out more about God, you may wish to examine the evidence whether God may be further revealed by one of the world's religions. If so, belief has some further ideas to assist you to narrow your search.