Does It Matter If God Exists?

[Quintessence]

But why ask if it matters if God exists without applying this principle equally to your life in other ways? Like, does a proper understanding of gravity matter? What about atoms? What about whether the Earth is round or flat?

The lesson that should come out of asking these questions is probably this:

Things matter to a human because their worldview decrees it to be so. Meaningfulness is always an inherently personal exercise and the major sphere of human experience that religions deal with.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

Well, if all religious humans were of the Objective Authority kind, you might have a point, but that is not the case.

And for those who are not trying to win me over to some belief, nor asking that I accept what they say is "the truth", nor trying to leverage principles into my life that come out of some "holy book" - fine. Believe as you will, do as you feel you must... just leave me out of it entirely. As it stands, I am constantly told (or it is implied) that I am being either intellectually or philosophically remiss when I state that I don't believe in any sort of god whatsoever. It's daft. Learn to keep it to yourself, and stop harassing other people's intelligence. It's important to YOU - and it ends there unless you can DEMONSTRATE that it doesn't. Don't expect a single shred of respect for beliefs you can't muster even a solitary scrap of even fair evidence for. Keeping it to yourself protects you from that horrible, scandalous thing called "scrutiny."

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I think everyone has dealt with the unknown before. So yes, I certainly have. I just see no need to think the unknown is a deity.

Has the unknown changed your perspective of things?

If you had not had that experience (if so be), would it matter or did that experience change something in you that you could not think of a life without it?

I think the answer to these questions answers why it does matter god exists.

I'm not sure why it's necessary as a whole to deify the unknown. I do agree with @Quintessence that it's individual need. So, the question would change by the person you ask rather than a universal answer. Finding the patterns throughout history. Some people are the silent minority and don't need to deify their experiences and interpretations.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

And for those who are not trying to win me over to some belief, nor asking that I accept what they say is "the truth", nor trying to leverage principles into my life that come out of some "holy book" - fine. Believe as you will, do as you feel you must... just leave me out of it entirely. As it stands, I am constantly told (or it is implied) that I am being either intellectually or philosophically remiss when I state that I don't believe in any sort of god whatsoever. It's daft. Learn to keep it to yourself, and stop harassing other people's intelligence. It's important to YOU - and it ends there unless you can DEMONSTRATE that it doesn't. Don't expect a single shred of respect for beliefs you can't muster even a solitary scrap of even fair evidence for. Keeping it to yourself protects you from that horrible, scandalous thing called "scrutiny."

I would like evidence for all of your feelings in that post.

 

[Revoltingest]

There are lots of threads floating around the forums these days arguing for and against God's existence.

God has not made her presence known to me in my life. I see no reason to need to believe in her in order to be happy, to reason, to behave ethically, or to understand how things work.

Perhaps God judges our fate in the afterlife? If there is some life beyond death in which she will judge me, I have no control over my fate, as I don't even know what the nature of such an afterlife would be, or by what criteria I'll be judged. Humans offer lots of opinions on that subject, but none has presented a convincing argument that demonstrates they are any more in the know on the subject than I am. So I have no reason to live my life any differently based on what may or may not happen beyond death.

In short, even if God does exist...does it matter?

"God" is the proper name of the Christian god.
It would matter if that one existed, cuz I'd be
doomed to eternally swimming in a lake of fire.

But considering the infinite potential for types &
numbers of gods, their existence matters not cuz
I'd have no idea how I could improve my fate..

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

I would like evidence for all of your feelings in that post.

I already gave it to you, in the form of indirect (via the internet) communication. If you like, we could discuss over the phone, or even meet in person and go over the feelings in more detail. Perhaps you could shadow me in my life for a while, and discover for yourself whether or not I can be judged trustworthy in my assessment of my own feelings. Or we could conduct a brain-scan during various states of unrest or stress upon my person or mental state, and compare those against brain scans taken when I am being pressed upon by a religious proselytizer.

You think you are being clever, but what I have just offered above, again, is leagues beyond ANYTHING you will receive or be able to produce for the existence of "God." Things that appear in reality, observable by us both with a high degree of commonality to our experience.

 

[Salty Booger]

In short, even if God does exist...does it matter?

It depends on how the answer paints your perspective on life. Some people find their happiness in the answer.

 

[Left Coast]

Has the unknown changed your perspective of things?

If you had not had that experience (if so be), would it matter or did that experience change something in you that you could not think of a life without it?

That's an interesting counterfactual and I'm not sure anyone can really answer those.

I think the answer to these questions answers why it does matter god exists.

Here's something to think about. When you label the unknown, "God," you're actually not leaving it unknown. You're attaching all kinds of qualities to it that come along with deity. If you really want to learn to sit with the unknown, appreciate it, be comfortable with it...it doesn't need labels. In fact, labels are a hindrance to really appreciating it.

I'm not sure why it's necessary as a whole to deify the unknown. I do agree with @Quintessence that it's individual need.

A need, or a preference?

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

I already gave it to you, in the form of indirect (via the internet) communication. If you like, we could discuss over the phone, or even meet in person and go over the feelings in more detail. Perhaps you could shadow me in my life for a while, and discover for yourself whether or not I can be judged trustworthy in my assessment of my own feelings. Or we could conduct a brain-scan during various states of unrest or stress upon my person or mental state, and compare those against brain scans taken when I am being pressed upon by a religious proselytizer.

You think you are being clever, but what I have just offered above, again, is leagues beyond ANYTHING you will receive or be able to produce for the existence of "God." Things that appear in reality, observable by us both with a high degree of commonality to our experience.

Feelings are not observable like say a stone. That you apparently value e.g. intelligence in not a part of the observable reality. And indeed I properly value intelligence differently than you.
So if I insult you by believing in God, that is in you subjectively. And that has nothing to do with intelligence as such.

 

[1213]

...even if God does exist...does it matter?

If Bible God exists, things will go as told in the Bible. If He does not exist, things are very miraculous. So, I would say it matters in some ways. However, does person believe it, does not matter much, if person is not righteous. Believing that God exists doesn’t quarantine eternal life for anyone. That is for righteous. Therefore, I think righteousness matters more than belief or knowledge that God is real.

These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
Mat. 25:46

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23

 

[Heyo]

Indeed, people believe God is important, even if they turn out to be wrong about her. Why do they think she's important? Why does she matter?

God is power. Those who claim to know the will of a god and convince others of it, have power over them.

 

[Left Coast]

If Bible God exists, things will go as told in the Bible. If He does not exist, things are very miraculous. So, I would say it matters in some ways. However, does person believe it, does not matter much, if person is not righteous. Believing that God exists doesn’t quarantine eternal life for anyone. That is for righteous. Therefore, I think righteousness matters more than belief or knowledge that God is real.

These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
Mat. 25:46

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23

Can people be righteous without theism?

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

Feelings are not observable like say a stone.

Not AS observable, certainly... but observable nonetheless. Ever accurately read a person's facial expressions? Body language? Ever get a vibe as to the conditions surrounding a situation and have some of your suspicions confirmed? Those cues exist in verifiable, shared REALITY.

That you apparently value e.g. intelligence in not a part of the observable reality.

Ever take a test? Ever come up against a problem that needed solving and you were successful? Ever witness video of animals performing various learned tasks in order to achieve some ends they desire? Unfortunately for your little game here, intelligence also is demonstrable IN REALITY.

And indeed I properly value intelligence differently than you.

A very mundane claim, and I therefore have no reason not to believe you. I will simply take you at your word on this... your word being also a thing presented IN REALITY. But do you see the reasons I am able to easily grant you this as being truer than not? Do you understand that there is nothing affecting my life or livelihood when I accept the idea that you do not value intelligence the same as I do? It is a trivial thing, and doesn't affect me. If, however, you were to tell me that your valuation of intelligence being so much "less" than my own were somehow a boon to your health, and you were telling me this so that I might adopt your same level of valuation toward intelligence, well then that would be an entirely different matter. No longer is this a simple, mundane claim. I'm going to need some evidence. Some form of justification for the belief that presents itself in our SHARED REALITY.

So if I insult you by believing in God, that is in you subjectively. And that has nothing to do with intelligence as such.

As I already stated, your belief in God is not an insult to me. What is an insult, however, is the insistence that I am somehow intellectually, or principally failing the world or myself by NOT believing in God. And your coming to me, claiming that what I am doing is incorrect, WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO DEMONSTRATE HOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS MORE CORRECT, is an attack on my sensibilities/intelligence. I will always see it this way, and yes, that is my subjective experience... WHICH IS IN NO WAY ANY LESS VALID THAN YOUR OWN. Do you understand me?

 

[Nakosis]

There are lots of threads floating around the forums these days arguing for and against God's existence.

God has not made her presence known to me in my life. I see no reason to need to believe in her in order to be happy, to reason, to behave ethically, or to understand how things work.

Perhaps God judges our fate in the afterlife? If there is some life beyond death in which she will judge me, I have no control over my fate, as I don't even know what the nature of such an afterlife would be, or by what criteria I'll be judged. Humans offer lots of opinions on that subject, but none has presented a convincing argument that demonstrates they are any more in the know on the subject than I am. So I have no reason to live my life any differently based on what may or may not happen beyond death.

In short, even if God does exist...does it matter?

It usually only matters if you need a belief in God to control other people.
God is the ultimate police person.

 

[George-ananda]

In short, even if God does exist...does it matter?

I think the old 'Does God Exist?' question is becoming more confusing as the game today has evolved beyond 'Materialist-Atheism' versus 'The Abrahamic God'.

As to your comments on life after death, they seem a bit pessimistic. If there is 'something more' why assume it will 'judge' us good or bad. I do believe in life after death from the evidence of many types of so-called paranormal phenomena. And that evidence and my study of spirituality tells me the quality of the heart is what matters for happiness both in the now and the afterlife.

 

[MNoBody]

And for those who are not trying to win me over to some belief, nor asking that I accept what they say is "the truth", nor trying to leverage principles into my life that come out of some "holy book" - fine. Believe as you will, do as you feel you must... just leave me out of it entirely. As it stands, I am constantly told (or it is implied) that I am being either intellectually or philosophically remiss when I state that I don't believe in any sort of god whatsoever. It's daft. Learn to keep it to yourself, and stop harassing other people's intelligence. It's important to YOU - and it ends there unless you can DEMONSTRATE that it doesn't. Don't expect a single shred of respect for beliefs you can't muster even a solitary scrap of even fair evidence for. Keeping it to yourself protects you from that horrible, scandalous thing called "scrutiny."

I feel you..... peace

 

[Quintessence]

God is power. Those who claim to know the will of a god and convince others of it, have power over them.

Yeah, how dare those who claim to know the will of god open up all those food pantries and homeless shelters! And that tree planting? That's gotta stop!

 

[Vee]

In short, even if God does exist...does it matter?

If God exists I have a hope, if not I don't. That's a big deal to me.

 

[MNoBody]

If God exists I have a hope, if not I don't. That's a big deal to me.

God the artist formerly known as Gad [Gawd] the deity of fortune fate destiny.....now attached to the time-lord which governs our time, rules our days and nights, eternally revolving, going around in circles on the wheel of life
which has more woe than weal
[weal and woe. This expression refers to the good and bad times, the joys and sorrows, or prosperity and misfortune. "We all get our share of weal and woe in life."]
life on the wheel we feel should be about Joy ...yet Woe is the common Fate and death is the shared destiny.
so regardless, we ought to be kind to each other.
Hope your day has some meaning in it, be well.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

Not AS observable, certainly... but observable nonetheless. Ever accurately read a person's facial expressions? Body language? Ever get a vibe as to the conditions surrounding a situation and have some of your suspicions confirmed? Those cues exist in verifiable, shared REALITY.

No, ever heard of autism.

Ever take a test? Ever come up against a problem that needed solving and you were successful? Ever witness video of animals performing various learned tasks in order to achieve some ends they desire? Unfortunately for your little game here, intelligence also is demonstrable IN REALITY.

Yean, and then what? That successful is good, is subjective. And how we treat less intelligent people also factor in to that.

A very mundane claim, and I therefore have no reason not to believe you. I will simply take you at your word on this... your word being also a thing presented IN REALITY. But do you see the reasons I am able to easily grant you this as being truer than not? Do you understand that there is nothing affecting my life or livelihood when I accept the idea that you do not value intelligence the same as I do? It is a trivial thing, and doesn't affect me. If, however, you were to tell me that your valuation of intelligence being so much "less" than my own were somehow a boon to your health, and you were telling me this so that I might adopt your same level of valuation toward intelligence, well then that would be an entirely different matter. No longer is this a simple, mundane claim. I'm going to need some evidence. Some form of justification for the belief that presents itself in our SHARED REALITY.

All fair and well, but your mental health will never be mine "one to one" or in reverse and it is not a part of a shared reality, because of differences in actually psychology.

As I already stated, your belief in God is not an insult to me. What is an insult, however, is the insistence that I am somehow intellectually, or principally failing the world or myself by NOT believing in God. And your coming to me, claiming that what I am doing is incorrect, WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO DEMONSTRATE HOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS MORE CORRECT, is an attack on my sensibilities/intelligence. I will always see it this way, and yes, that is my subjective experience... WHICH IS IN NO WAY ANY LESS VALID THAN YOUR OWN. Do you understand me?

There is no objectively more or less correct when it comes to this:
https://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/0_0_0/whatisscience_12
I am as correct to me as I am and incorrect to you and so in reverse.
We are playing limited cognitive, cultural, moral and psychological relativism.

I can't demand that you believe in God, nor do I have an authority to do so and I don't care if you believe or not. I can only note that you seem to think that we must be the same as how we individually cope with our individually different parts of reality, which are not shared. If they were shared, you would be me and so in reverse. So all of reality is not shared.

So here I what I learned. You believe in a different reality than me and that has nothing to do with religion or not. You believe in a shared reality I can't replicate, because you are not me and so in reverse.

So let us sum up. You apparently assume that there is a shared evidence for all aspects of mental health. That is not the case. Brains are different in a limited sense and what works positively for you could cause discomfort in me and so in reverse.