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| "Dattatreya" by Raji Rava Varma (1848-1906) |
According to Gottschall, "...humans conjure gods, spirits, and sprites to fill explanatory voids. This is not to deny that one culture's supernatural story can be more valid than another's). But does this mean that religion is, in evolutionary terms, useless or worse? A growing number of evolutionists think not (121)." In this passage, Gottschall appears to be attempting to make a pivot from a negative depiction of religion (as something made up) to a positive one (as something that serves a valuable purpose).
However, does it necessarily follow from Gottschall's observation that there are multiple "supernatural" stories that none of them can me more valid than another?
How do you think someone might take up the challenge of persuading someone like Gottschall that one set of supernatural stories is more valid that another? Put another way, what is the best way for a believer do to persuade a non-believer of their worldview?
Actions speak louder than words. When people mainly see pastors preaching on a soapbox or witness someone claiming one thing and doing another, it does not create a positive significant impact. In order for someone to try persuading another person of his or her beliefs, he or she needs to live by what they choose to abide in, and from Gottschall's viewpoint, a "supernatural" story may only be of more validity if it benefits a group of individuals in this way. For example, if a Christian claims to help others but instead bullies or gossips about people then he or she is not displaying the value of his or her belief system, but if that person instead truly cares about reaching out to others and lives by what they claim (reading the Bible, loving unconditionally, volunteering at soup kitchens, sitting with someone at lunch if he or she is alone, inviting people to church and staying involved in ministry) then that person is more likely to have a good influence on a "non-believer" (not to say, from a Christian perspective, that our actions can save us; rather, we believe Jesus paid the price for our wrongdoings and through his sacrifice we are able to freely give the gift of love to others without fear or condemnation). Acceptance of others, whether they have the same beliefs or not, and by selflessness putting their needs ahead may be one way in which a believer can be persuasive. -Elsa M
ReplyDeleteI can agree with Gottschall's statement that "religion is a human universal. (p119) -And I must admit that "the world's religions are gaining more converts than they are losing. (119) From among his reasons for and the effect, his statements on p.120, "humans are born curious," and his reference to the unanswerable question in the same paragraph are closer to my understanding of religion. To me, before we had empirical "truths," the curiosity of humans was the "science" of the time, and the priests, shamans, and other religious leaders were the "scientists" of their time. True, some of these early leaders were charismatic to the degree that their stories remain the centers of religions today. In most cases religions have evolved as the story telling animal has understood and modified it in various ways, and as "scientific facts" have come to light. For example, in my own mind I have been amazed at the parallels between the Jewish story of Creation in Genesis and what science has revealed. The early Jews had great insight into the order of the developing world. I cannot agree with the revolutionary thinkers Gottschall names. I am tempted to say they simply have not gone far enough in their thinking and I would say the same of those who call themselves atheists. As scientists learn more about the history of the earth and the cosmos, there are some scientists who express, in poetry or prose, their strong or growing belief in a spirit of something greater than we can unserstand, and that to me in my Christian faith is more realistic than a mentally enhanced human with a long beard as we see portrayed in stained glass windows and other works of art. -And yet I must admit in our human state, we simply have no better way to express our awe than to refer to "Father, God." Because each human mind is unique, it is perfectly natural that religions would evolve in their practice and teaching. The best way for a believer to convince the non-believer of his worldview is to live what he wants to teach. However, I do not think it is important to expect the non-believer to change his worldview. I think it is more important for the believer, regardless of his religious background, to try to understand the non-believer in this instance. Understanding the "other" is the goal of education, in my view.
ReplyDeleteNo matter what arguments or cases for a supreme being's existence or non-existence are given, one must recognize the need for faith. I would dare go as far as to say that even devoted atheists have a certain amount of faith in order to believe in the non-existence of anything holy or supernatural. Observation aside, If you want to convince others that your religion (or lack thereof) is the true religion, one must live out your faith and do your best to show non-hypocrisy in both talking the talk and walking the walk. In addition to the comments given by Leah and Elsa (great responses by the way) I believe that the ability to show love towards both those who are lovable and those who are not easily loved is the most essential task in convincing others that your religion is true. If you only throw facts and heated arguments at someone however, it is the quickest way to turn them away from your beliefs.
ReplyDelete-Dylan West
I agree with your statement entirely, Dylan. There truly is no way to establish a belief in anything without faith. Regardless of what an individual does in life, faith is a necessity. For example: Whenever you walk across a bridge, you must have faith that it will hold you up. If you were to trust and know the individual that built the bridge, then making the journey would certainly be easier; however, walking across a bridge of utterly uncertain origin would take just as much, if not more, faith. How might someone who has faith in a bridge persuade an individual lacking faith? Cross with confidence…. My confidence in this life rests upon my faith in Christ. I’m far from perfect. I mess up daily, but I choose to have faith. Christ built my bridge.
Delete-Dillon Rea
Well said Sir, the analogy is perfect. Too many times I see people who claim to be of a religion only because that is how they were raised. Subsequently, whenever someone asks them to cross that bridge they are unable to do so because they've never crossed on their own free will. Because of this, they have not been able to build up any type of in-depth personal faith. Revelations 12:11A says "And they overcame him because of the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony." (ASV) While learning the Bible and believing in Christ’s sacrifice is not only important but essential in reference to the Christian faith you and I share, it is too often the case that when someone has no personal testimony on which to hold to along with their faith and belief; It suddenly becomes much easier to doubt that bridge when someone else comes along giving you information about how that bridge won't be able to hold you.
Delete-Dylan West
Honestly this question is brilliant, but I am not sure my answer will be appreciated. I am not sure if persuading a non-believer is possible. Do not get me wrong, I do think that peoples minds can be changed, but once someone has chosen what to believe in or what not to believe in, they are almost always set in their ways. For example, my high school calculus teacher one day tried to prove a point to us. He said that he did not believe in China, and he thought China was not real. We all tried to entire hour to prove him wrong showing him maps and internet data and he came up with a ridiculous excuse each time. When the hour was over, he told us that he was trying to show us how once someone has made up their mind only they can change it. No amount of "proof" or "evidence" can change someones world views. They have to change them themselves. Maybe the believers and non-believers just need to realize that whether or not one of them is wright and one of them is wrong, that they are all humans trying to live in this crazy world and standing united, instead of separate, is one way to make life for everyone a little easier.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who grew up in a town with an extremely large and very zealous Christian population, I can attest to how frustrating it can be to have a religious person hound you time and time again and insult you more and more each time in some convoluted effort to make you "see God's truth". I myself was not raised in a religious house, and I do not wish that I was. I can affirmatively say that I will not be swayed on my stance on religion, and I have never met a single person who was raised in a religious setting who was unsure of their religious views. Therefore I will say that people who have been raised in a certain setting are unlikely to change their views, barring a major occurrence. This unwillingness to adapt in terms of religious views is personified in today's world, with Israel's people fighting a holy war with themselves and Christians fighting Muslims. These wars have been fought for thousands of years, with both sides committing atrocities at times. And all done in the name of what is essentially the same deity. Don’t get me wrong though, I do see the merit of religion from the standpoint of it being a moral system.
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