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Quester
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Date Joined Jun 2005
Total Posts : 3
| Posted 6/29/2005 1:20 PM (GMT -6) |   | | Hi,
I have a question posed to me by a friend. I have no real good answer, but would appreciate any that anyone has or any resources that I could check out. The question is: Does it really matter if God exists?
Any insight would be appreciated.
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trosie
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Total Posts : 550
| Posted 6/30/2005 6:42 AM (GMT -6) | |
| >>I have a question posed to me by a friend. I have no real good answer, but would appreciate any that anyone has or any resources that I could check out. The question is: Does it really matter if God exists?
Any insight would be appreciated<<
Does it really matter if God exists? WOW! What a question to ponder!
Knowing that God exists matters quite a bit if one wants to have a purpose in existing. It matters eternally if one wants to know the truth and be set free from the bondage of sin. And during a cold, dark, weary night of the soul it is a comfort and source of strength to know that we are not alone in this journey. |
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Laika
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| Posted 7/1/2005 12:38 PM (GMT -6) | | | | |
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Quester
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Date Joined Jun 2005
Total Posts : 3
| Posted 7/5/2005 9:13 AM (GMT -6) | | | Thanks for your responses. I see what all of you are saying. I've been talking with this friend of mine for years about the existence of God and recently he has remarked that my conception of God as personal and loving is very different from the ideas other friends of his share. He seems tantalized by the idea. However, when it comes right down to it, he's not really willing to consider the question because he doesn't think it ultimately matters. He rather believes that spirituality only confers benefits in the here and now. My original question comes from my frustration with getting him beyond this point.
I know that it does matter and that judgment is one of the main reasons. However, I'm not really interested in bringing up the final judgment at this point because it would likely strike him as difficult to accept. I've tried the idea that if God really exists, He would have a real effect on Him now, but that doesn't seem to do much for him. Any thoughts?
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trosie
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| Posted 7/5/2005 8:37 PM (GMT -6) | | >>Any thoughts?<<
Quester,
Since you are asking all of us for our thoughts on this topic I'd like to contribute again. Here are some of my thoughts about whether or not knowing that God exists makes any difference in life.... Of course Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life but if you don't want to go that route about judgement I absolutely do NOT blame you. And one really doesn't have to in defending a reason for why having God in our life makes a difference. I have come to the conclusion that no matter what spirituality a person holds on to the people who hold on with faith in a being greater than ourselves seem to have more peace of mind than those who do not believe especially when facing crises. Knowing that they are not going through this world alone is a comfort and peace they hold on to for their life support when the rough waters hit. No matter the theology... the belief in something outside of our own power seems to give people a sense that there is a meaning and purpose to life. Certainly, however, not all are able to grasp on to hope and peace just because they believe. Those who have been corrupted in their theology by abuses in life or faulty theology often end up with some dissatisfaction, anger, or bitterness that leaves them cold during the rough times in life. Of course this type of spirituality will not bring about a sense of peace and hope but rather a sense of frustration. In fact it's during the rough times of life that folks with this frustration often end up losing their faith. BUT all in all I'd have to say that knowing we are not alone on this journey, knowing that there is a purpose driven in our life, having faith definitely does matter especially when the rough waters hit (which we all experience from time to time) Faith gives people a sense of hope and a reason for pushing ahead.
I'm curious does your friend believe in God? Is your friend just not in a place where they want God to be a part of their life? I'd be curious how they have survived without God for this long. Are they one of those who have been wounded by their belief in God and therefore have chosen to do it alone?
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Quester
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| Posted 7/6/2005 8:31 AM (GMT -6) | | Trosie,
Thanks for your thoughtful response. I think my friend would agree with you on almost all of your points. In fact, he believes very strongly in the power of the "idea" of God and in how this helps so many people live purpose-driven, peaceful lives. However, he doesn't see why it matters really God really exists or not, given that he sees the benefits coming merely from the idea. The answer that came to mind again when reading your posting was that if God is real, it has to matter that He exists. It's like the difference between wishing that you were in a loving, romantic relationship, but without having a partner, and wishing that you were in a loving, romantic relationship, but having a partner that fulfills one's relational longings.
I don't know if my friend's history matters much or not, but basically he's a 65-year old intellectual who believes that the idea of God is an adaptation rooted in natural selection. He believes that there are a lot of awesome things in the world (such as nature, connections with others, etc.), but doesn't believe it's necessary to posit the existence of a supernatural force to explain their origins. I think he has a good argument (probably the one I would use if I was an atheist or agnostic) in that he thinks a more parsimonious explanation of the world can be made without assuming that there is a Creator. I think He ultimately fails, though, in that he can't explain certain things, such as the irreducable complexity of the world.
I've tried to engage him in the evidence for his believes, but he doesn't seem to budge on this. Recently, I've taken a different approach and discussed more my personal need for God and how it makes a world of difference to sense that there is a all-loving Creator out there who accepts me for who I am and helps me to transcend myself. This has interested him, but he largely withdraws at some point because he thinks it doesn't really matter if God exists. He's really a genuine seeker, but he can't get beyond this point. Thoughts?
Quester
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Laika
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Total Posts : 2433
| Posted 7/6/2005 8:51 AM (GMT -6) | | Does your friend understand history?
Humans beings used to individually hunt and gather their food and starved to death when these failed. Only by by banding together, have they been able to withstand the vagracies of nature that lead to starvation. Only by banding together have they been able to lead more secure lives, etc. History is basically the story of the consolidation of people into larger and larger groups.
Now name ONE instance where early humans beings banded together without the social cohesion of religion............
The Nile river valley? The Indus? The Yangtze? The Yellow? The Ganges? The Tigris and Euphrates? The Loire? The Niger? The Amazon?
This may be begging the question but I can't think of any examples of early man banding together without the social cohesion that religion brings.
 Post Edited (Laika) : 7/6/2005 9:04:46 AM (GMT-5) | | Back to Top | | |
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Starkman
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Total Posts : 1747
| Posted 7/6/2005 3:45 PM (GMT -6) | | I figure, if there's no god, then first, I must accept who and what the human race is as "normal," and second, no one HAS to be morally accountable to anyone. Oh, there may be laws that someone's put into place, but they sure aren't going to make me feel guilty if I break one of them. No way. Why should I? How the hek can I, and why the hek should I, be forced to live under some person's idea about what he or she thinks is right for everyone else, let alone me?
If there were no god, I'd have to conclude that the human race is not screwed up, but, rather, that the human race is doing its thing, just as it should. Hey, if Bob's a peeping Tom, go for it, Bob. If Joe likes molesting children, who or what am I that could even THINK that it's wrong to do such? What exactly am I going to point to in order to substantiate my point? The "law"? Who's law? And who the hek said that anybody who makes a law should be making laws?
If there were no god, I'd be free to conclude that it's a free-for-all. I mean, why should I have to listen to what someone else says. If I like doing this, that or the other, it certainly cannot be "wrong" just because someone else says it is. See, even Relativests have figured it out. They're trying to live out a you-do-your-thing-and-I'll-do-mine so as to be that much more free from someone's idea of what should and should not constrain. They've figured it out; each man for himself. However...they still contradict what they teach by often times going with that "innner" stuff that makes them think there's a right and a wrong. I mean, you ever noticed that? You tell them, "Yeah, I'm all into relativism. I think I should be free to steal that guy's car. Why the hek should he have it and not me?" Suddenly, the Relativists takes a change of attitude and starts with that crap about it being wrong to steal. What's up with that? If there's no god, who the hek is going to tell me it's wrong to steal. I can do as I darned well please. Don't like it, fine. Shoot me, but only if I don't shoot you first. I want the car, I'm taking it. You don't want to steal, fine. Leave me alone, though. After all, if we're going to do this relativism thing, let's be completely up front and live to the ultimate for it. Here, here to Relativism...if there's no god, that is.
Oh, the good of society, someone will say. We have to self-preserve, hence the need for laws and some sort of understanding of right and wrong; Do whatever you want, they say, just so long as it doesn't hurt anyone else. Peeping Toms ain't hurting no one. If they're good, no one even knows they're there. And what's with this "good" stuff? Who's good? Yours? If your good of society isn't what my good of society is, I'll be darned if I'll listen to you cram your ideas about it all down my throat. After all, if they're ain't no god, I firmly believe that the "good of society" means that there's a lot of people that don't deserve a lick of a stick to be on this planet. I'm a bit tired of that jerk who lives next to me. And, further, I'm tired of it always being the other guy having it all. Screw that. I'll take what I want when I want. I think those skin heads are on to something, if you ask me. Maybe it's time we do some serious...well, you get the point. If there ain't a god, I'm telling you right now, it's a free-for-all. Every man for himself, and may the best man win. Even Hollywood makes good movies with that as the theme. Kill or be killed. Take what you want and show no mercy. To hek with this morality and right or wrong stuff. I'm getting it while the gettin' is good.
Well...
I think, to tell you the truth, I'm glad that there's a god who's put something about right and wrong, good and bad into the hearts of men. I'd have checked out off this planet a long time ago if there were no god and it were all just up to us.
Starkman
My teacher used to say that whenever he read Scripture, he would always ask the question, "What does this have to say about the character of God?" Working off his thinking, as I read Scripture, I have come to ask, "What does this have to say about the heart and passion of God's desire for relationship for us?Post Edited (Starkman) : 7/6/2005 3:51:47 PM (GMT-5) | | Back to Top | | |
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Truth Aficionado
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Date Joined Dec 2003
Total Posts : 1544
| Posted 7/6/2005 4:00 PM (GMT -6) | | Good post, Starkman. 
God is the glue that holds this world together,
Mark
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1Heart
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Date Joined Feb 2004
Total Posts : 1128
| Posted 7/7/2005 1:07 PM (GMT -6) | | Quester said...
Hi,
I have a question posed to me by a friend. I have no real good answer, but would appreciate any that anyone has or any resources that I could check out. The question is: Does it really matter if God exists?
Any insight would be appreciated.
Quester
Quester, I'm a late-comer to this thread, but your friend's question is one that we've all probably asked ourselves at some time or another. Have you shared why it matters to you? Just a thought. My relationship with Him is the most intimate relationship I have and I can't imagine life without Him. Does it matter that someone loves us unconditionally, fights for us, sings over us? I wonder if your friend isn't looking for such a relationship. Having a friend as caring as you matters. Having a friend like no other, more loving, more caring, who knows our heart and still loves us--matters. I'm sure everyone will answer this from a different perspective and you'll have lots to discuss with your friend.
God bless,
Jo-Anne
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1Heart
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Date Joined Feb 2004
Total Posts : 1128
| Posted 7/7/2005 1:11 PM (GMT -6) | | Quester said...
Trosie,
Thanks for your thoughtful response. I think my friend would agree with you on almost all of your points. In fact, he believes very strongly in the power of the "idea" of God and in how this helps so many people live purpose-driven, peaceful lives. However, he doesn't see why it matters really God really exists or not, given that he sees the benefits coming merely from the idea. The answer that came to mind again when reading your posting was that if God is real, it has to matter that He exists. It's like the difference between wishing that you were in a loving, romantic relationship, but without having a partner, and wishing that you were in a loving, romantic relationship, but having a partner that fulfills one's relational longings.
I don't know if my friend's history matters much or not, but basically he's a 65-year old intellectual who believes that the idea of God is an adaptation rooted in natural selection. He believes that there are a lot of awesome things in the world (such as nature, connections with others, etc.), but doesn't believe it's necessary to posit the existence of a supernatural force to explain their origins. I think he has a good argument (probably the one I would use if I was an atheist or agnostic) in that he thinks a more parsimonious explanation of the world can be made without assuming that there is a Creator. I think He ultimately fails, though, in that he can't explain certain things, such as the irreducable complexity of the world.
I've tried to engage him in the evidence for his believes, but he doesn't seem to budge on this. Recently, I've taken a different approach and discussed more my personal need for God and how it makes a world of difference to sense that there is a all-loving Creator out there who accepts me for who I am and helps me to transcend myself. This has interested him, but he largely withdraws at some point because he thinks it doesn't really matter if God exists. He's really a genuine seeker, but he can't get beyond this point. Thoughts?
Quester
Just read this, after my first response. It's good that you've shared these personal reasons--relational reasons--for why the existence of God matters. It may not look like it has an impact on Him, but I believe all of us desire such a relationship, no matter what else we believe. You've given him food for thought. Sounds like an interesting fellow and I'm sure you have great conversations.
Jo-Anne
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One Love
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Date Joined Jan 2003
Total Posts : 13888
| Posted 7/8/2005 10:59 AM (GMT -6) | | Let's take it this way...
Let's say that you have a group of people who believe an invisible pixie named Uue created the Universe. They believe that Uue is perfectly good and has established their general sense of morality and reality. Also, this invisible pixie Uue who create positive energy from people's positive thoughts. And their common belief is this: the more positive thoughts that that we have about life, about each other, and about ourselves, the more positive energy we will have to have positivity in our lives. The more positive energy we have, the more we will be able to discern moral issues and live like Uue wants us to live. The less positive that we are, things move in the opposite direction, much to Uue's displeasure.
For this commune of people, what would be the PRACTICAL difference whether or not Uue was objectively real? Their BELIEF that Uue is the foundation of all moral intuition is still a BELIEF...that works it's way out in practice. They would probably say the same thing Starkman said...
I think, to tell you the truth, I'm glad that Uue has put something about right and wrong, good and bad into the hearts of men. I'd have checked out off this planet a long time ago if Uue weren't there and it were all just up to us.
Now, I know you don't necessarily believe in an invisible pixie named Uue. But does that change the purpose and assurance that the Uue believer does have? Nope.
For some religious belief (or relationship) is functionally no different than having an imaginary friend. Think about it. If you saw a little girl playing, talking, and laughing with her imaginary friend, usually wouldn't she be acting JUST LIKE she were playing with a "real" person? Actually, to her, it WOULD be a real person. It doesn't matter of her imaginary friend is OBJECTIVELY real because it's SUBJECTIVELY real to her and that reality shapes her perceptions and behavior.
This is why I would say this: Even IF the whole all-loving, all-powerful Christ/God thing weren't objectively real, it would DEFINITELY be worth believing just for the potential personal effects of believing one is unconditionally loved and one is to, from that point, unconditionally love others.
My 2c
"I've been converted three times. The first was to traditional Christianity; the second to honesty and the third was to the Love of God and man (humanity) The third was the real conversion. The first two were preliminary."
--Nels Ferre, a theologian speaking of his spiritual journey with the Triune God
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One Love
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| Posted 7/8/2005 11:08 AM (GMT -6) | | A bit more...
Quester:
Thanks for your responses. I see what all of you are saying. I've been talking with this friend of mine for years about the existence of God and recently he has remarked that my conception of God as personal and loving is very different from the ideas other friends of his share. He seems tantalized by the idea. However, when it comes right down to it, he's not really willing to consider the question because he doesn't think it ultimately matters. He rather believes that spirituality only confers benefits in the here and now. My original question comes from my frustration with getting him beyond this point.
I know that it does matter and that judgment is one of the main reasons. However, I'm not really interested in bringing up the final judgment at this point because it would likely strike him as difficult to accept. I've tried the idea that if God really exists, He would have a real effect on Him now, but that doesn't seem to do much for him. Any thoughts?
If your friend is as astute as he sounds, then the idea of God's actuality having a REAL, DISCERNABLE effect that would be distinct from a mere heartily felt CONVICTION about God's actuality won't sell. Where the rubber hits the road is post-mortem existence. To me, that's when God's objective actuality really will have a real, discernable effect distinction from what is possible with just the conviction.
"I've been converted three times. The first was to traditional Christianity; the second to honesty and the third was to the Love of God and man (humanity) The third was the real conversion. The first two were preliminary."
--Nels Ferre, a theologian speaking of his spiritual journey with the Triune God
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Empiressque
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Total Posts : 17
| Posted 7/13/2005 9:58 PM (GMT -6) | | Quester,
I can see your friend's dilemma and bet that if he hasn't really felt a need for God, then the response that God gives one hope or strength wouldn't be very compelling. The other route, as some have suggested, is the threat aspect (like Pascal's wager) of not believing in God and what that will mean after death.
But perhaps it matters because our role is to bring about the Kingdom of God here on earth. Maybe your friend doesn't feel the need for God, but what about people starving, sick or living in horrid conditions? God's existence and his power to heal and help matters to these people. I've never met a homeless person in my years of ministry that didn't believe in God. Jesus came healing the sick, casting out demons, feeding the hungry.... I can't imagine a person living in desperation who thought it didn't matter whether God exists or not...God is their only hope. There's a reason why hospitals and schools and such were all started by people of faith originally....contributing to God's Kingdom on earth. By believing in God, he/we will be empowered to help those in need.
Just a thought.
Best,
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One Love
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| Posted 7/14/2005 1:06 AM (GMT -6) | | Empiressque:
But perhaps it matters because our role is to bring about the Kingdom of God here on earth. Maybe your friend doesn't feel the need for God, but what about people starving, sick or living in horrid conditions? God's existence and his power to heal and help matters to these people. I've never met a homeless person in my years of ministry that didn't believe in God. Jesus came healing the sick, casting out demons, feeding the hungry.... I can't imagine a person living in desperation who thought it didn't matter whether God exists or not...God is their only hope. There's a reason why hospitals and schools and such were all started by people of faith originally....contributing to God's Kingdom on earth. By believing in God, he/we will be empowered to help those in need.
I hear what yer sayin', Miss E. However, I think this would play right into the idea that
Quester's friend is already asserting. By the world being such a broken, hopeless place, almost ANY source of enduring hope would look good to keep people going...almost like any THOUGHT of a possible oasis would be to a person thirsty in the desert. And the idea of an all-knowing, all-powerful, all-good God who is definitively on the side of human amelioration would definitely fit the bill. For these people, the actual existence of God wouldn't really matter a whit. What WOULD matter is that there were sufficient leeway for a person to keep believing in a God...some level of ambiguity that allowed God's potential existence to truly be feasible...as well as some type of warrant for that belief. But none of this equals God's actuality at all.
Like the depressed married person who's had their spouse left that carries on with life simply off the hopeful (delusional?) belief that their spouse will SURELY return to them, so could people who believe in God.
From my perspective, this is better than the alternative. Truthfully, I'd rather see a faithful person living out a humanity-enhancing belief in something not actual...than to see that person face and really try to live out a nihilistic existence. Yeah...
"I've been converted three times. The first was to traditional Christianity; the second to honesty and the third was to the Love of God and man (humanity) The third was the real conversion. The first two were preliminary."
--Nels Ferre, a theologian speaking of his spiritual journey with the Triune God
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One Love
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| Posted 7/15/2005 5:58 PM (GMT -6) | | Miss E:
Turning that idea around, would it be better to believe in something that was true, even if it wound up contributing negatively to one's life and others? And if not, does that mean that having humanity-enhancing beliefs are more important than truth? Is that what you're saying?
I think that beliefs have to correspond with reality and cohere enough to be human-enhancing on the whole. Beliefs that completely hit head on with reality will sooner or later end up with problems. However, I don't think that believing something that is true is a virtue in and of itself. If having a level of inaccuracy in our belief structures can allow for more human flourishing and the amelioration of suffering, I'm all for it. I didn't always think this way, but now I do.
For example, a woman is dying in a cancer ward who wants to reconcile with daughter. She's in the very last stages. She desperately wants to know that her daughter forgives her for their problematic past. She's tried for YEARS to reconcile the relationship. You're the chaplain, as it were. You've contacted the daughter who tells you two things:
1) I've hated that woman all my life and I'm glad she's dying.
2) Tell her I say "Kiss Satan's a$$ in hell, bi%ch!"
When you talk to the lady on death's door, she asks you about her daughter. She wonders has her daughter forgiven her. She says she can't leave in peace knowing that her daughter still hates her. She asks you "Does she still hate me?" She might go tonight.
What would you tell her?
Think about it.
"I've been converted three times. The first was to traditional Christianity; the second to honesty and the third was to the Love of God and man (humanity) The third was the real conversion. The first two were preliminary."
--Nels Ferre, a theologian speaking of his spiritual journey with the Triune God
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Empiressque
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| Posted 7/17/2005 9:59 PM (GMT -6) | | Mephi,
I think there's a distinction between the scenario you posited, which would call for a pastoral response, and the concept of truth as a world view. Of course I would tell the woman what she needed to hear to die peacefully. But, this is just one aspect in her life, a relational one, in an extreme pastoral situation.
On the other hand, if we're talking about fundamental world views in general, I don't think it follows. I'm not convinced yet anyway. While none of us can avoid flaws in our beliefs, shouldn't our aim always be to be reaching Truth (objective capital T Truth) OVER "human-enhacning" beliefs? If we start putting "human enhancing beliefs" above the search for Truth, I think we will run into serious trouble. It would be shallow at best, and sinister at worst.
For instance, in some churches I've been in, there is a very intentional "sheltering" from the outside world that goes on in order to keep things pleasant...or "enhancing" for the members. Things are too nice, too good, too easy. People believe their pastor is always right and that everyone in their church is "right" and that if you just do the "right things." life will be happy. Everything is cacky pants and flowery Bible covers and upbeat Praise music (what I commonly refer to as the "Christian Bookstore Culture." Now, anyone could argue that this system of belief is very, very enhancing in their lives, and it' s not hurting anyone else. But I think it is downright evil on some level. There is a fundamental denial of any Truth that is unpleasant. In this "world"...the homeless are only there because they're lazy, street kids are rebellious children that needed more discipline, anyone who looks, acts, or thinks differently is probably on the wrong path (and maybe they're not even real Christians, at least not good ones). Sure, they may be nice to such people and even give out food or money to the homeless because they're "good people"....but something is terribly amiss in their attitude (which no one else may be affected by in a tangible way, and their lives are quite happy).
Who can blame them for holding such a world view? But I think there is something deeply fowl about it...as though somehow Satan has won a major battle by telling a few "harmless little lies" about reality. This is the kind of slippery slope I see putting "human enhancing" beliefs above Truth as a general rule. I can't even put my finger on why it's so wrong...only that something tells me it is. And I want to run into these churches and scream some sense into them...but why do I care? They're happy enough.
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One Love
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| Posted 7/18/2005 8:35 AM (GMT -6) | | Miss E:
On the other hand, if we're talking about fundamental world views in general, I don't think it follows. I'm not convinced yet anyway. While none of us can avoid flaws in our beliefs, shouldn't our aim always be to be reaching Truth (objective capital T Truth) OVER "human-enhacning" beliefs? If we start putting "human enhancing beliefs" above the search for Truth, I think we will run into serious trouble. It would be shallow at best, and sinister at worst.
For instance, in some churches I've been in, there is a very intentional "sheltering" from the outside world that goes on in order to keep things pleasant...or "enhancing" for the members. Things are too nice, too good, too easy. People believe their pastor is always right and that everyone in their church is "right" and that if you just do the "right things." life will be happy. Everything is cacky pants and flowery Bible covers and upbeat Praise music (what I commonly refer to as the "Christian Bookstore Culture." Now, anyone could argue that this system of belief is very, very enhancing in their lives, and it' s not hurting anyone else. But I think it is downright evil on some level. There is a fundamental denial of any Truth that is unpleasant. In this "world"...the homeless are only there because they're lazy, street kids are rebellious children that needed more discipline, anyone who looks, acts, or thinks differently is probably on the wrong path (and maybe they're not even real Christians, at least not good ones). Sure, they may be nice to such people and even give out food or money to the homeless because they're "good people"....but something is terribly amiss in their attitude (which no one else may be affected by in a tangible way, and their lives are quite happy).
Who can blame them for holding such a world view? But I think there is something deeply fowl about it...as though somehow Satan has won a major battle by telling a few "harmless little lies" about reality. This is the kind of slippery slope I see putting "human enhancing" beliefs above Truth as a general rule. I can't even put my finger on why it's so wrong...only that something tells me it is. And I want to run into these churches and scream some sense into them...but why do I care? They're happy enough.
Man, I sure missed you. 
Anyways, I would completely agree with you. Two movies that I think about with your scenario are Logan's Run and Demolition Man. In both movies, idyllic, utopian, CLOSED societies were at the expense of the marginalization and oppression of the "outsiders". But I think the end of those movies bears out my point...
I think that beliefs have to correspond with reality and cohere enough to be human-enhancing on the whole. Beliefs that completely hit head on with reality will sooner or later end up with problems.
In both movies, the harsh reality that they were TRYING to insulate themselves from kept encroaching upon them. It was only a matter of time before their systems would come crashing down. And they did. In the situation that you are talking about--abject Christian ghettoization--that is NOT humanity-enhancing on the whole for a number of reasons. This particular belief cripples more than it empowers ultimately, and sets people up for a MAJOR fall when they confront the true harsh realities of a fallen world. Personally, I believe that God only allows nice little Christian enclaves to exist for so long before God raises up a prophetic voice to begin to bring those people to reality.
I do think that I see your implicit point though. The idea of "human-enhancing beliefs" can end up being a very subjective term that can end up justifying a citadel-of-peace, utopian mentality that only TRULY benefits a portion of humanity in certain suspect ways at the expense of other human beings. Point acknowedged. When I speak of "human-enhancing beliefs", I think of beliefs that would more likely cause OVERALL human fluorishing and amelioration of suffering. Example: If someone was dedicated to helping marginalized people...because of a self-transcendent experience that they with an "enlightened alien being" while dancing in the middle of a "real" crop circle, would it make sense for me to try to dismantle that belief by immediately debunking the crop circle belief? For some, they'd say yes. Me, I'd say no. Would I try to broaden their horizons later? Yes, but ONLY because I think it would be helpful against the growing tide of evidence against the reality of crop circles...NOT just for the sake of Truth.
Do you see where I'm coming from? Human-enhancing beliefs, for me, are beliefs that are empowering, motivation, and uplifting to the people that hold them...and enable them to become more helpful in human fluorishing, ecological awareness, and the amelioration of suffering.
"I've been converted three times. The first was to traditional Christianity; the second to honesty and the third was to the Love of God and man (humanity) The third was the real conversion. The first two were preliminary."
--Nels Ferre, a theologian speaking of his spiritual journey with the Triune God
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