A Psychosocial Case for God

In America, the rise of atheism has impacted all age groups, but has particularly taken strong hold in younger generations.

There are many common, logical arguments such as:

"Who could actual get one of each animal and put them on a boat. I can't even get my dog to not pee in the house."

"How does one part a sea, scientifically?"

These arguments are overly simplistic and are commonly used to extrapolate over and invalidate religion as a whole, i.e. throwing the baby out with the bathwater. After all, if these stories are to be believed, and they are impossible for me to relate to, the rest of it has to be questioned, right? Yes, just as much as the parts of scripture that you can relate to and have a value in your life.

I suggest a psychosocial argument for God. Specifically, as an existential and transcendental defense mechanism to the maladies of life.

Any choice is ultimately based upon survival and basic human nature. Pain and pleasure mechanisms become the base operating program. Relativism can take hold and decisions can be solely based upon risk, reward and worldly acknowledgement. Further, since we are social creatures, it can lead to a life where an action/reaction to worldly acknowledgement becomes the paramount concern. This manifests itself, at its most extreme, by absolute conformity or a constant rebellion to the social world.

The reality is that we are all somewhere in-between. No one fully accepts all the world has to offer and we make choices every second about what and how we want to be in the world. Without God, or a belief that in a transcendental, existential entity, we essentially live in the here and now with no consistent structure or governance over our actions; to live in complete hedonism and/or survival with no binding moral agreement to restrain choices and/or actions. To believe that most are aware enough to give careful consideration to consistency in their principles or self-determined doctrines, actions and beliefs gives our human nature too much credit.

That said, human nature is not the enemy. Rather, it just is. It is something we manage every second of every day to (hopefully) promote healthy choices. If you chose to only eat delicious food, it's very likely your health will suffer, i.e. America's obesity epidemic. If you keep a balanced diet, a system that restricts your most basest desires, i.e. sugar, chances are you'll live longer and enjoy greater health (and potentially be happier as a result). While eating choices serves as an easy metaphor, this management of human nature extends to every part of your life, i.e. relationships, sex, community, career, etc.

Hope

In the choice to decide between belief in a transcendental entity vs. a relativist or self-determined doctrine, consider what can help you control your human nature, primal urges or rebellion that can promote self-destruction in the most extreme of cases. The abdication of that responsibility to a transcendental entity can provide an appropriate defense mechanism to manage the good and bad of the world. Abdication of that responsibility to one's own senses, which are under constant marketing attack in this capitalistic society, will break even the most conscious and "willpowered" amongst us. A consistent approach, with a community of co-believers, i.e. support group, that can help us address the very real issues in life that will cause despair, frustration and other maladies we find in the world that can potentially block our ability to act. The belief of an entity that, whether it really exists or not, can serve as a beacon while the senses are inundated and overwhelmed.

Whether we like it or not, technology is quickly changing everything around us. The amount of time on social media and websites (like this one) is increasing every day so much so that it is its own economy. Distractions, target marketing and big data are breaking us all down to our most basest (depraved?) tendencies. One look at porn and what it's doing to our brains and relationships will give you all the examples you need.

Is your beacon going to be a website, the followers on your page, author, blogger, fantasy [insert worldly fallible item here]?

Do you have so much faith in yourself that you will not fall prey to the power of success?

That you will maintain a sense of morality is a more and more relativist world?

Is living a life in the moment living your best life? Are your senses infallible?

Where do you go when you senses fail you?

Illuminating awareness. Facilitating choice.