For the sake of simplicity, I hope you will be willing to extend me a little bit of grace in this essay. I realize that there are many definitions and nuances for the topics and subjects I hope to cover. I realize the brush I am using is somewhat broad, but I hope it will not detract from my point(s).
Basically there are 3 broad belief systems that almost everyone falls into.
1. Religious- tied to a defined belief system
2. Atheism- anchored in collective human reasoning (what can be known)
3. Agnosticism- An uncertainty if there is a creative force and how to define it
I suppose that there could be a 4th category of those who simply don't care or put any thought into the nature or existence of a "god". However, I don’t believe this category really exists. There are some that might believe they are in this category, but this is usually shattered when a crisis hits. It is difficult, and I would argue impossible, to maintain a position of complete indifference on the subject of “god”. There could be some that believe they are in this category right now, but I am not going to address this as a category because:
- It is a temporary state
- They won’t be reading this deep into an essay on “god” if they are indifferent to the idea.
All three systems have their own strengths and weaknesses. And, strangely enough, similarities. If you are interested in the commonalities between belief systems, please check out a sermon series by Erwin MacManus from Mosaic church in Los Angeles. It is called “The Truth Between Us”. In the series Erwin brings in leaders from other religions and one week, an atheist. He questions them and allows them to speak a bit about what their convictions and religious positions are. Of course, if you feel threatened by the fact that other people have different beliefs than you do, you are most likely not going to enjoy it much.
Inherent among all three systems are two things I want to focus on.
As an aside- I want to address the fact that there are atheists that are not comfortable with having the word “faith” attached to how they view the world and existence. For this essay, please understand that when I use the word “faith”, this is the definition:
Faith- believing in something one can not prove at this time, and possibly, never
Also, I am a Christian. That is the lens I am looking through when writing this, and it will be the religion I refer to the most as it is the one I know most about.
Let’s take a brief look at how faith plays into each system:
- Religion- the easiest and most obvious. All of the major religions are swimming in faith. Belief in an afterlife. Belief in some kind of deity or deities. These are things that can not be proven at this time, hence faith.
- Atheism- this is a bit trickier, as many atheists generally do not like this word due to its heavy religious connotations. But there are very many things atheists believe in that they can not prove. They can not prove that “god” does not exist. Yes, I know that the “burden of proof” falls on those suggesting that something exists. And yet… they can not disprove “god”. Existence came from somewhere. The universe started. No one can prove how that happened. At least, not at this time. And again, this is a generalization, but atheists believe that science can explain everything if given enough data and observation. (and even that cannot be proven yet!)
- Agnosticism- the concept of faith is also a bit slippery with this one, but also present. There must be “something” out there. Certainly there is faith that it can not be defined but yet there is a force or a presence responsible for reality.
Yes, this is not brand new information. But let’s delve a little deeper into the concept of how faith ties into each system. In all three, faith centers around a main concept or belief.
- Religion- their faith centers around something outside of themselves, generally a combination of “holy writings” or deity or deities. The key is that they don’t believe that they have the ability to define “god”. “God” has already defined himself/herself/itself. That “god(s)” either chooses to or chooses not to interact with mankind.
- Atheism- their faith centers around collective human knowledge and intelligence. For many it centers around science. Everything happens to exist. Given enough time, pretty much everything is possible.
- Agnosticism- this is the most interesting to me. The center of their faith is themselves. They believe that “god” is unknowable. There is not a centering of their faith on anything outside themselves. No deity defines their beliefs, nor does collective human knowledge or intelligence.
Each system also has an arrogance that is innate to it.
- Religion- there are so many religions. How in the world can you know which one is “right”? Isn’t it arrogant to say that you know for sure which one is correct? People have been fighting for thousands of years trying to “prove” that their religion is superior. Millions of gallons of blood have been shed in the attempt to be “right”. And none of the major religions are immune. Yes, I’m looking at you Christianity and Islam. Isn’t it interesting that the two largest religions in the world each believe there is one true God? And that these two religions have killed the most people? What kind of religion has to kill those who don’t agree?
How many people have died believing that their way was correct? What happens to those who die in the “wrong religion”? How is that fair? Wouldn’t a “god” care about them? Otherwise, why did he/she/it create them in the first place?
To summarize: “We have it figured out. We are the one that is right!”
Flipside- Just because there are many different options, it does not necessarily mean they are all invalid. There could be one that is the “true way”. This is an obvious possibility.
- Atheism- how can you “know” that there is no “god”? It cannot be proven. And isn’t that one of the tenets of what you believe? You don’t believe in a “god” because science has no need for one--even though science can not make life and has no good answer for how matter initially came to be. So many questions are left unanswered. Humans are fallible. We are continually proving that our knowledge is not only incomplete, but also faulty. How often have we swung back and forth on so many areas of science? We often do a great job building on the knowledge and discoveries of our predecessors. But there also many times we realize that they were completely wrong. Draining sick people of blood? Bad idea. The earth is flat? Not so much. The more we learn, the more we realize how much we don’t know.
To summarize: “There is an explanation to everything. There is a reason.”
Flipside- Any rational person has to consider the possibility that there is no “god”. There are very specific things we can prove. There is a logic to put your belief in the things that are known for sure. A safety, if you will.
- Agnosticism- they do not put their beliefs in an outside source. They do not put their beliefs in the collective knowledge of humanity. Instead, they treat the two other systems as a type of smorgasbord. Glean what sounds good from the other two systems. They argue that truth is unknowable. That it is arrogant for a religion or any individual to define what “god” is. But they do the same thing. Listing “god” as “unknowable” is a definition. Ultimately they put their faith in their own selves. They get to decide for themselves what is right for them. They are open to considering multiple options. But many of these options contradict each other. Who gets to decide which option is correct? There are times in life you have to make decisions, especially when it comes to your own core values.
To summarize: “You can’t define something so outside human intelligence.”
Flipside- don’t all systems ultimately decide what they want to believe or disbelieve? Even the most ardent of followers deviate at some point. Hence they are picking and choosing what to believe. This is more intellectually open and honest. It considers and holds many options without settling on one thing.
Belief systems can not be overestimated. They help guide and mold the totality of who you are. And I would also argue that not everyone’s belief systems are what they think they are. You can ultimately tell by how someone lives their life. They shape how you view yourself and others.
My turn-
I cannot put my belief in myself. I find myself to be an entirely unacceptable source to base my beliefs on. There is no way I am able to decide what is “truth”. So agnosticism is out for me. That leaves religion or atheism. Atheism puts all its eggs into the basket of human knowledge and science. A very leaky basket in my point of view. Also, I find that atheists are the most dismissive and close minded of all three systems. It used to be religion that was most guilty of this, but the ball has been passed and atheists have gladly accepted it. Believers just need a crutch. Agnostics are lazy.
And for you agnostics- what if the “force or entity” that is out there WANTS to be known?
Again, you have to admit that is a possibility. And although agnosticism is certainly not relegated to the young, I find that this is usually attractive to the younger crowd. It meshes well with so many things happening in the life and mind of those younger than 25.
But again, all systems have arrogance.
We all believe we are right or we wouldn’t believe it! No one ever says “Oh yeah, everything I believe is complete crap”. That is insanity.
I choose to put in my beliefs in a system that was not spelled out by me. I don’t get to define truth. It is what it is. It is immune to what I think about it. 2+2=4 no matter what my opinion is.
Could I be wrong?
Of course!
Of course!
At the end, I think that we all need to be able to discuss what we believe without getting all pissy about it. Why are you holding your beliefs so tightly? What are you afraid of? Why not discuss it and understand where someone else is coming from?
I believe in the God of the Bible. I believe Jesus was his son. I believe he died out of love for me so I could be with him for eternity. I believe he rose again. I believe he intimately cares about what happens to each of us.
For me, Christianity does a much better job of explaining reality than any other system.
But, I also believe that God does not need me to defend him. I don’t have to get mad if someone disagrees with me. Quite the opposite.
