Would the world be better off if someone proved God didn't exist?

[ShallowHal]

What would be the consequences of living without the faith in a higher being?
Although there are many atrocities committed on a daily basis in the name of religion,
I believe the world is a better place with the idea that God exists.

Thoughts?

 

[MrBond]

Trust me, if there was no threat of punishment in the afterlife, we'd see a far more immoral and violent society, its our nature. Religion (and the fear of God) keeps us in check. It's better this way.

 

[ToBeMe]

By the same token, would it be better off if someone proved a "Higher power" DID exist????????

 

[ShallowHal]

<< By the same token, would it be better off if someone proved a "Higher power" DID exist???????? >>



Millions of people of various religions already believe that proof does exist.

 

[phlashphire]

don't really have an final opinion... but i think that too many a times does religion separate rather than bring people together.

 

[WhiteWonder]

<< Would the world be better off if someone proved God didn't exist >>



but then where would the masses flock to?............


me?

 

[geno]

either way, there'd be a lot of "Told ya so"s going around

 

[mithrandir2001]

The world would be better off if people didn't place faith above scientific acuity.

 

[NakaNaka]

oh the world would be much worse. God gives people hope. Without hope, what are we?? Hope is all we have left sometimes. (Pandora's box ) If there was no God, there would be much more violence/crimes.

 

[GasX]

<< Trust me, if there was no threat of punishment in the afterlife, we'd see a far more immoral and violent society, its our nature. Religion (and the fear of God) keeps us in check. It's better this way. >>

Morals and ethics are NOT the exclusive domain of the religious. I consider myself a moral man and it has nothing to do with some fear of retribution. If you really believe what you just said, you probably need to seek counseling to deal with the urges that you seem to be suppressing due to your fear of ultimate retribution...

 

[Kev]

Homer: I was working on a flat tax proposal and I accidentaly proved there's no god.
Flanders: We'll just see about tha.. oh.. maybe he made a mistake? Nope... it's airtight.

 

[MrBond]

<< Morals and ethics are NOT the exclusive domain of the religious. I consider myself a moral man and it has nothing to do with some fear of retribution. If you really believe what you just said, you probably need to seek counseling to deal with the urges that you seem to be suppressing due to your fear of ultimate retribution... >>

Ahh yes, but if the morals of our society are almost always rooted in religion.

And no where did I say religion was supressing my urges. I still stand by what I said, without the fear of retribution, I'm sure our society would be a much darker place.

 

[Elledan]

Actually, your title should include all gods, not just the god of the Christian ideology.

There are, and have been, millions of gods. Many of them have vanished already with the religion they were part of.

It's therefore logical to assume that no god of any religion has anything to do with the existance or nonexistance of supernatural beings (or 'higher' beings).

Actually, with the current knowledge we have, 'gods' are merely a figment of the imagination.

Anyway, if my thesis on religious ideologies is correct, then we should see religious ideologies fade to the background as our society continues developing.

As for the question, religious ideologies are likely to play a rather important role in developing societies, but they are only a temporary phenomenon. They only provide a society with a 'skeleton', on which it can grow.

 

[b0mbrman]

<<

<< By the same token, would it be better off if someone proved a "Higher power" DID exist???????? >>


Millions of people of various religions already believe that proof does exist. >>


...And millions of people believe that there is conclusive proof that one doesn't exist...

 

[Elledan]

<<

<<

<< By the same token, would it be better off if someone proved a "Higher power" DID exist???????? >>


Millions of people of various religions already believe that proof does exist. >>


...And millions of people believe that there is conclusive proof that one doesn't exist... >>


...and both sides are wrong.

Theists and Atheists have more in common than they think.

 

[ShallowHal]

<<

<<

<< By the same token, would it be better off if someone proved a "Higher power" DID exist???????? >>


Millions of people of various religions already believe that proof does exist. >>


...And millions of people believe that there is conclusive proof that one doesn't exist... >>



I won't disagree with you but I doubt the number of nonbelievers is close to the believers.

 

[skace]

Well, I think at first it would be worse off due to the innitial shock. Religions would fall apart, people would think they could do whatever they wanted to do, and a lot of people would feel cheated.

But after that innitial shock, a new line of thinking would be born. People would come to realize that life is only what you make of it, they would want to keep their standards of living high, if not higher than before, and above all they would want to make something of themselves. Something that would last beyond death.

 

[gopunk]

doubtful, since people will always find a way to do what they want. the things we see today (ie, religion, government) are all created by us. we will just find something else to replace it.

 

[Elledan]

<< Well, I think at first it would be worse off due to the innitial shock. Religions would fall apart, people would think they could do whatever they wanted to do, and a lot of people would feel cheated.

But after that innitial shock, a new line of thinking would be born. People would come to realize that life is only what you make of it, they would want to keep their standards of living high, if not higher than before, and above all they would want to make something of themselves. Something that would last beyond death. >>


Very insightful.

 

[PrinceofWands]

I think the questioning is good...no one CAN know for certain (hence the term faith), and that keeps people questioning...questioning leads to enlightenment (rather religious or philosophical) and that is always good.

Prove he exists and people will no longer need faith, prove he doesn't exist and many would lose hope (though not all as millions of people live just fine as atheists).

As to more believers than non-believers, there are definately more religious people than pure atheists. However I know far fewer 'christians' than I do agnostics, eastern philosophy believers, wiccans, or atheists. Mind you, if you don't go to church you automatically miss a large segment of the religious population.

Overall I'd be fine without any chance of there being a God, but I know others would not.

 

[Elledan]

<< doubtful, since people will always find a way to do what they want. the things we see today (ie, religion, government) are all created by us. we will just find something else to replace it. >>


But what if religious (intolerant) ideologies are merely part of the natural development of a civilization?

Was there ever a time when so many atheists could be found on this planet?

It seems far more likely that religious ideologies are fading to the background, that people are starting to 'wake up', see and think for themselves, instead of believing in a fantasy.
Atheists compensate in this scenario for the theists, allowing other people to consider the available evidence and make a decision on their own.

 

[Optimus]

I personally do not believe it will ever happen, as I believe God does exist. But the discovery of truth is always a good thing... so IF non-existance of god = Truth, then yes, finding out would be a good thing.

It is always good to know the truth.

Now reverse the question - if God exists and now revealed himself to man without a doubt, would that be a good thing? How would people react?

Hmmmmm...

 

[Elledan]

<< I personally do not believe it will ever happen, as I believe God does exist. But the discovery of truth is always a good thing... so IF non-existance of god = Truth, then yes, finding out would be a good thing.

It is always good to know the truth. >>

Can you, without using metaphysical stuff, explain to us 'infidels' why you are convinced that gods exist, that this Christian god exists? Can you also explain to us why only the Christian god exists and the other gods are either false or merely a 'synonym' or part of the Christian god?
Furthermore, please explain why the gods mankind created before the Christian ideology and its god were 'misguided' and the Christian ideology is the only correct one.

I'm eager to hear your, non-metaphysical, answers on these questions.



<< Now reverse the question - if God exists and now revealed himself to man without a doubt, would that be a good thing? How would people react?

Hmmmmm... >>

A better question: what if the god of some small religion with hardly a thousand followers does exist and now reveals itself to man without a doubt, would that be a good thing? How would people react?

Hmmmmm...

 

[ShallowHal]

<< Actually, your title should include all gods, not just the god of the Christian ideology.

There are, and have been, millions of gods. Many of them have vanished already with the religion they were part of.

It's therefore logical to assume that no god of any religion has anything to do with the existance or nonexistance of supernatural beings (or 'higher' beings).

Actually, with the current knowledge we have, 'gods' are merely a figment of the imagination.

Anyway, if my thesis on religious ideologies is correct, then we should see religious ideologies fade to the background as our society continues developing.

As for the question, religious ideologies are likely to play a rather important role in developing societies, but they are only a temporary phenomenon. They only provide a society with a 'skeleton', on which it can grow. >>




I didn't realize that the word God was strictly for Christian use. That's an interesting thesis you have.
I rather doubt that most people have the "current knowlege" but I would be interested what that current knowlege is.
Does the belief in God fade with religious ideologies? I know very few people who go to church or synagogue
yet their belief is quite strong. They're not living in caves or strapping bombs to their chests and walking into shopping malls.
They're very repectable citizens. Thanks for the response.

 

[gopunk]

But what if religious (intolerant) ideologies are merely part of the natural development of a civilization?

i think that's a good point, but i think that change has to come about a little more gradually than somebody just suddenly proving that god doesn't exist. we might get there eventually, but in the mean time, i believe people will find a substitute.

Ahh yes, but if the morals of our society are almost always rooted in religion.

no, our religions are based on our morals. that is why around the world, the vast majority of different cultures, civilizations, religions, all have common themes, like you shouldn't f*ck dogs.