Faith and Choice

Those who have faith ask me: what comfort does atheism bring?

They are right of course. It offers no comfort. No promise. No hope. So, they would ask, isn't it scary? How do you go on each day, if you have no hope.

Going it alone, without faith to back one up is not for everyone. It's not easy being atheist. It means accepting the fact that there is no God, no intelligent design, no greater meaning, no grand scheme, no guarantee that what we do is going to be enough. But it's not difficult either. You don't need to resolve issues of meaning of life, and you don't need to wonder if you're going to heaven or hell, and you don't need to wonder if the people you meet are going either.

There was a movie ("Oh God!" starring George Burns and John Denver) where God (George Burns) comes down and appoints a messenger to spread his new message. He was moved to action because people were saying that God is dead, or worse: that God never existed. His new message (in the movie) to people is this: I exist. I don't interfere anymore but I exist.

But, his appointed messenger (John Denver) asks, if you don't interfere (with miracles) anymore, then what's the point? What does it mean to people? Why should people pray? God exists but he doesn't interfere anymore, so what? We can still make mistakes and blow up the world. We pray, but you don't answer.

Ah. He says. The difference is if God never existed, then how do you know this world will succeed? How do you know this world is even suppose to exist? How do you know that the world won't blow up anyway, in spite of all you do? If there never were a God, then whatever you do could be a big waste of time.

The Difference, he says, is that I made the world, and because I made the world and universe so that it is good, I give you this guarantee: it can work; it can succeed. The trick is, YOU got to make it succeed. All you need to make this world a better place has been given to you. Work with it.

That's why people need faith. To hope and believe that what they do can and will make a difference.

(Of course there are also those who believe because they want to go to a better place, and the miss the whole point of being here. They believe this place is doomed.)

I take a different approach.

I do not know if what we do will make a difference or will make this world a better place.

There are two choices. I can decide that screw it. Chances are it will fail anyway. Everyman for himself. Take what you can. Burn what you can't.

That approach will mean this world will probably have a better chance of failing.

The other option I have is to try to contribute to making this world work a little better.

I'd like to think that I'm on this side of trying to make things a little better and increasing the odds that this world will succeed in not blowing itself up.

And that's my morality.

Maybe there's a God and this can all work out if we make enough good decisions. Maybe there's no God and nothing we do can save this world.

Some people will need to believe. If you do, good for you. Your faith will guide you.
Some won't need to. Good for you too, if you're on the side of working to make this place better.

If one needs a guarantee, then go ahead and believe. If you don't need a guarantee, then hey, welcome to the club. The tools are over there. Get to work..

All there is, is a commitment to making things better. Being there for each other. Helping each other through the rough times. Reminding each other of what we're working for. Growing in our ability to love and connect with each other. Helping each other achieve our full potential, and having a good time while we are doing so.

If we recognise that we are on the same team, pursuing the same ends, then we contribute while we can, and then the team continues with younger souls that we hope we have trained as best we can.

And that is as "forever" as it gets.