Note: Throughout this writing I may use Deity or God interchangeably as placeholders for the concept of God.
My belief of parental instruction as the basis of cult ideology I have found is also supported by psychologists and philosophers. It is reasoned that the proxy observer concept developed into a set of stories, rituals, and rules that were intended to ensure survival of the offspring. Purification rituals have no logical basis in appeasing or showing reverence to any god but they sure do help preserve foods, prevent the spread of disease, and reduce incidents of food poisoning. It then followed that those people who adhered to the cult practices -- worshipped the god or gods appropriately and followed the rites commanded by the deity -- had a higher survival rate. These etiological based results were then falsely attributed to supernatural intervention. The belief in cult practice was reinforced and passed on through early indoctrination of the children while their minds were malleable and trusting of the parents. It is not until adolescence that children develop the reasoning skills to challenge religious indoctrination[en4] -- often too late. This logical connection between cult ideology and longevity has no more support than weight loss pills. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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The existence of God and the ensuing role that such a being shall play in our daily lives, our aspirations, beliefs and our government is a hotly contested issue. There appears to be one side proclaiming their cult adherence based upon faith while another group ardently adheres to a reasoning through logic based approach. There is an array of belief sets other than the two extremes however. The existence of God and etiological considerations of self are important subject matter for parents who are in a position to inform their children and can affect child custody decisions as well as the parent child relationship.
Those who advocate a God based existence come primarily from various factions of the Abrahamic or similar cults. They proclaim an existence of God based upon a collection of writings -- sacred texts -- inspired by the rules and supporting rituals of politicians and competing rabbinical leaders which began being assembled some 3000 years ago and culminated in the third century CE. These writings include supposed origins of the universe, which 39% of Americans state a belief in by agreeing with the statement that "God created the universe, the earth, the sun, moon, stars, plants, animals, and the first two people within the past 10,000 years"[en1]
From a logical construct when function or cause is to be attributed to actions we look for the simplest explanation. Often we do this in our daily lives without thought. In our discussions as to motives we simply reduce them to sex, money or power. This is the basis of the principle known as Occam’s Razor. The principle states that among competing hypotheses, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected. As it applies to God there are four principle schools of thought in descending order of complexity; 1] Deism -- Deity created the universe, started it functioning, but is no longer actively involved in it; 2] Pantheism -- Deity is the inner spiritual essence of everything in the universe; 3] Panentheism -- Deity is the inner spiritual essence of everything in the universe, but it exists beyond the universe as well; 4] Theism -- Deity created the universe and continues to actively participate in the world's activities and in daily human existence.
Deism was primarily brought about through reason in the Age of Enlightenment. John Quincy Adams, Ethan Allen, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Thomas Paine, George Washington and many -- perhaps most -- of the leaders of the American Revolution were deists. Their belief was promulgated in the US Senate which specifically denied the existence of the United States based on Christianity.[en2]
Deists assert that: God exists: God created the universe, and its scientific and moral laws, in a state of perfection. Thus, after he set the universe in motion, his main task was completed. Since his creation was perfect, it did not need continual interference by God to keep it functioning as it was designed to operate.
Stephen Hawking recently made clear his support of atheism when he said: "Before we understand science, it is natural to believe that God created the universe. But now science offers a more convincing explanation."[en3] Science seeks to find the answers while cults proclaim to provide them and then modify those mythological facts as scientific knowledge and truths demand.
There is a logical reason for the belief in a deity though. There must be as most of the human inhabitants of the world believe in a god or gods. As there is no predominant cult then it is a truism that the majority of humans believe that the majority of humans are incorrect in their assumptions about a deity. Starting from this premise I sought to understand how can almost all people hold a nearly universal belief [God exists] and yet nearly all of those people -- according to each other -- be incorrect in the application of this overarching belief.
God belief is a socially accepted hypothesis that became dogmatic backed by social sanction. The supernatural aspect emerges from hypotheses arbitrarily assumed by individuals to explain natural phenomena that could not be explained otherwise at the time. Cult practice became social ritual as those who deviated were publicly scorned and may also have feared adverse consequence in an afterlife. Many of the “facts” or scientific "truths" revealed in sacred texts which are attributable to a supernatural being have been roundly rebuked by modern science.
As a subscriber to the concept of evolution I have no preference toward either of the two supporting philosophies -- being purely non-intentional astrological origin or set in motion by a deity at the instant of the Big Bang. From a human psychological perspective I believe that our behaviours are the result of an evolutionary operation which favour traits that advance our longevity and reproduction. Most people dislike the bitter taste of poisonous fruits but enjoy peaches, mangos, and other such healthy fruits. I don’t believe that this is by chance or through some divine plan. Rather, I feel it is highly likely the result of the consequence that befell those who were born with the “poisonous fruit taste delicious gene.” Traits favourable to reproduction survive while those that do not become extinct.
As someone who studies the dynamics of families, the contributions that mothers and fathers make to the lives of their children and how the children are affected by child custody decisions I am well positioned to analyze the evolutionary basis of parental behaviours. In examining the nearly universal concept of Deity I deduced that the basis must be founded upon parental instruction as parents are a child's first teacher. There is an evolutionary advantage to passing on our personal and accumulated knowledge of the world -- this fruit is poisonous, falling from a tree can kill you. In short do as I tell you or you could die is the message a child receives from a parent or other authority figure. From this I believe came the development of religion and a natural propensity through exaptation.
Included in the passing on of knowledge would be a simultaneous instruction on societal norms or morals. We found these in Aesop’s fables and other stories. Children, as we parents know, do not blindly follow our instruction. They are a curious bunch who challenge our beliefs and authority under the auspices that they are the exception to the rule and are too cunning to succumb to the statistical norm. Essential to effective discipline is trust. Children must be able to trust that we are being truthful with them. However, when complete trust is established children will still stray from our commands. Although we may watch, catch them in the act and mete out appropriate consequences we cannot be omnipresent although we would like for them to think we are. Thus, we develop a proxy for this task. This observer must never sleep, be able to see through walls, around corners, under water, and even know the child's thoughts. A master of surveillance. Sounds a bit like Santa Claus which, curiously, people manage to outgrow a belief in as reasoning develops. What about the homes without chimneys? What is the approximate number of homes per time zone that must be visited? Why do the media portrayals not match these mathematical calculations?
The underlying psychological motivators of religion are fear and the promise of reward. Central to the cult practice is blind adherence without question. That is, to abandon all reasoning through logic and follow the rules. This allows for control of the adherents which is something that is admitted by the clergy. Yet, the laity will surrender their autonomy by adhering to the contradictory and absurd practices and beliefs as absolute truths. This short video segment of the interview of a priest encapsulates the purpose of religious dogma.
The lack of control for a variable leads to a false causation attribution. Manufactures claim that when their weight loss pills are used in conjunction with a sensible diet and exercise that users experience measurable and consistent weight loss. They attribute the successful dieters' results to the weight loss pills. The same also works for hypnosis, saying affirmations in a mirror, counting backwards from 100 each day, or praying. It is the diet and exercise that produce the results, not the magic fairy dust at $30 per bottle.
Likewise cult dogma inclusive of its myriad practices and prohibitions does produce positive result for its adherence, most of the time. However, there is no evidence that worship of a deity or divine intervention is responsible for these results. More likely it is the practices that are responsible for better health and reproductive viability. Those who meditate, eat well, and practice social altruism have just as great or better outcomes that those who pray devoutly. Post surgery prayers have been shown to provide no positive correlation and may actually increase complications.[en5] Confirmation bias further expounds the effect of prayer. Rarely, if ever, do you hear the devout saying in response to the death of a loved one, "Our prayers went unanswered and he died anyway."
Empirical evidence has demonstrated the lack of religiosity benefit as well as that those who have higher intelligence across many measures are more likely to be agnostic or atheist. Reasoning through logic is a higher order brain process concurrent with intelligence. It is through reasoning that Hawking and others throughout human past have challenged religious dogma and proven the uselessness of deity worship of which results are replicated through secular practices such as meditation or introspection.
The logical argument for God is that the theory of God was attached to ritual practices associated with hygiene, food, social interaction, and psychological stability which had positive correlations to general well-being. On its own there is no logical support for God’s existence but as attributed through false correlations and biases it then seems to be logical that God exists.
[1] 2009 George Bishop, Harris Interactive poll.
[2] “As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion” Treaty of Tripoli June 10, 1797.
[3] el mundo, 23 September 2014
[4] Piaget described the age range on seven to eleven years as the “Concrete-Operational Stage” in which children begin to develop reasoning skills but can only solve problems that apply to concrete events or objects.
[5] Carey, Benedict. “Long-Awaited Medical Study Questions the Power of Prayer” New York Times, 31 March 2006.
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Wednesday, December 24, 2014
The Logical Argument for God
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Asking if God exists is the wrong question
03 November 2013
One of the oldest and most fundamental pursuits of man is the quest for the meaning of life. Soothsayers, shamen and the leaders of the evolving more structured movements offered enlightenment on this subject to their followers. In times of limited inquiry, scientific exploration, and general intelligence the fantastic ideas and mythology set forth by these purveyors of spiritual enlightenment seemed plausible to the masses. Combined with the desires of political leaders to maintain control of territory and resources the most savvy amongst these men were able to create an avid group of followers. Thus, modern religion – the collection of organized cults – was established.
Never has a generation been more attuned to the idea of spirituality than the Millennials and their preceding Gen-Xers who challenged every realm of authority. The successive generation is now grasping at the fringes of its own identity. With advances in all scientific fields, continuing scandals amongst church leaders and the constant revision of religious dogma to get with the times or to harmonize itself with established scientific fact, it is becoming apparent to more people that organized religion is a sham.
Technology and advances in communication have always haunted religious leadership. Those who challenged religious dogma with Truth were condemned by the church as heretical. When Coppernicus proved that the Earth was not the center of the universe the Church condemned him to death or house arrest for the rest of his natural life where he would be forbidden from promoting his scientific findings. In the modern era we find the principles of scientific examination of all unknowns to be "dangerous" or treading into areas where it is intended that only God would possess such knowledge.
The very outlandish and superstitious claims propounded by the cults invited skepticism and a challenge to their authority. Keep in mind that it was political bodies that often used the cults to ordain and maintain the state authority. The challenge to the cultists has traditionally been framed as those who are adherents to the cult – believers in God – and those who are skeptics – the non believers. I contend, however, that this is simply the danger of binary options. That is, framing the argument as believing in the God of the cults or not having a spiritual life. There is a third, and more probable, option that the cultists don't want discussed.
What modern man is finding is the same as his ancient ancestors. That spirituality is a natural part of the human experience. Spirituality connects us to the world, each other, and gives us meaning. It is spirituality and finding the resources within ourselves that extract us from the depths of despair while raising us into a higher state of being -- prayer or meditation. Psychologists and other brain researchers now tell us that those who regularly engage in prayer/meditation experience the same positive effects regardless of the title that they ascribe to their action.
While unsatisfied with the empty promises of organized religion that asks for subservience by its followers but a flexibility offered to the hierarchy, many are leaving the Church to follow their own spirituality. More concisely, a double moral standard is no longer satisfying. High profile religious leaders caught engaging in homosexual affairs or prostitution while offering condemnation to followers who would do the same have brought disrepute among the Church. The highest and most enduring problem has been the organized molestation of children perpetuated by the Catholic Church. The Church still seeks contributions from followers to pay for attorneys and settle cases of abuse all the while engaging the services of marketing agencies on how to spin these revelations.
Organized religion has always relied upon exclusivity as its justification for existence. God has only spoken to a chosen few who are then to pass on that information to the masses. With noble titles and adorned by specialized garb a sense of authority was granted to these charlatans. But as Guy Kawasaki -- one of the architects of early Apple Computer -- says, "[J]ust because someone doesn't have a title, wears jeans, and drives a beat-up car, doesn't mean you shouldn't listen to her." Conversely, he says no more credit should be given to those with title or specialized garb instead saying, "Look for genuine proof of expertise, not externalities that are highly correlated with knowledge."
One way the cult leaders justify their authority is through their texts – the Word of God. But this is based upon the fallacy of circular logic. The texts claim authority in their suppositions – including that their God exists – because God who is infallible directed the writing of them, therefore they must be true, therefore God exists and directed the writing of the suppositions. This is saying that their text is self-authenticating. I recently heard Rabbi David M Horowitz of Akron, Ohio who formerly resided in Indianapolis address the various Abrahamic texts as being written by consensus. That is all are a collection of various works that were submitted for inclusion and were voted upon by men who self-appointed themselves for that position. Thus, the texts represent only what the committee at that time wanted included based upon their objectives. In science it is considered invalid to report only the results that support your supposition. This is where logical people see the obvious failings of the texts of the various cults.
What the knowledge revolution is producing is generations who are successively challenging institutions more than their predecessors. While many are resistant to change, overall change is coming and will soon engulf all of society. Certain personality types such as Feelers have difficulty seeing and applying logic and therefore will be more likely to adhere to illogical beliefs and suffer the effects of internal conflict.
Beliefs are held for four reasons. Sociological based beliefs are a manifestation of the culture of a society that are perpetuated through institutions and custom. Psychological based beliefs are held to provide a sense of security to a mind searching for answers to the unknown -- often satisfying fears -- and giving a basis for our existence in answering the question 'Why I am here'. Deferential based beliefs are the result of instruction by authority figures. These beliefs are held simply because someone in an authority position, like a parent, instructed one to accept such a belief. Hence, the importance of early religious indoctrination of children before they develop their logical senses during adolescence. Finally, the rational based beliefs are those which are adopted only after supporting evidence or proofs are offered.
The rational belief comes at the end of the belief structure system making acceptance difficult in many circumstances as the other three must first be overcome. As a more rational generation is inhabiting the sphere of influence in public debate the question is shifting to a more rational can we all know God without the intermediary cults.
Our ancient ancestors were tuned-in to their environment. Their lives were filled with spirituality and related rituals. When matter is reduced we find that it is pure energy. But when energy is reduced we find that it is thought. Quantum entanglement and nonlocality demonstrate the greater than speed of light transmission of information – instantaneous thought.
Another way that the Church has sought to control the debate and maintain their authority is in the question of our existence. They pose the question to both 'believers' and 'doubters' as “Do you believe that we were created by God [the one of their texts] or did we evolve from pond scum?” I propose that the third group should be added to the pool of participants in the debate. Those are the silenced 'Rationals'.
The Rationals offer the rejected proposition that our creator made the universe, gave it life and left us along to evolve. This is why some of the Rationals can claim to be in touch with the universal God and be healed through mediation. The cultists of course claim that they are the way to God and that to be in touch with God and to receive His healing powers and salvation one must pray according to their dogmatic mandates. But this has not been upheld by scientific rigor. Studies have shown that those who use dogmatic prayer have no better outcomes than those who use meditation in seeking medical and other favours. One study showed that those who received outside prayer actually experienced a decline in well-being. The researchers theorized that patients who were aware of vast numbers of strangers praying for them must have concluded that their ailment was worse than felt and thus their subconscious responded accordingly.
The binary choice questions have long been used to maintain control of a society and keep them from challenging or breaking from the forces that restrain them. Ample situations exist all around us. Republican or Democrat? That is the equivalent of “Who do you want to decide your lifestyle – mom or dad?” What about yourself? Recall the oft referenced 'paper or plastic?' that made its way into our modern parlance as a substitute for heads or tails. We now see that the option of paper/deforestation [although that is just a perception as paper products come from tree farms] or plastic/pollution has been rejected for the third option -- which I started using about 15 years ago – cloth bags. More common nowadays is seeing the previously rejected third options being demanded. It's no longer a head or tails world as the Rationals have demanded that the edge also be considered. Especially when that edge is greater in length than the diameter of the obverse or reverse of the coin. With these realistic options having been offered let's now go back to the God question.
We are each God. We are of the Creator and are therefore the Creator incarnate. It is through our spirituality that we connect with each other and our environment. It is when we live in harmony with our environment that we fulfill the blessings with which we were intended to live while those who seek to dominate their environment -- including the fauna within -- suffer the consequential ills. This is why we must each set our own morality. That is what can allow us to live harmoniously. A mandated morality is abhorrent to our nature and thus creates conflict which leaves us in discord with the universe. So we need not face the old scripted and limiting question about God as it was sold to us as believing in the dogmatic God or not believing. The healthy and rational question is the broader “Why should I have to use an intermediary to access the Creator who is within me and everything around me?” Once that is answered then you can move on to the ultimate question – “Did we arrive here as the result of a Creator?” That I will leave for you to answer on your own.
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