Believe

1. Religious belief is the most reasonable response to existence.

It is the religious perspective that has the better case by far for being true.

Challenging secular default. In a world where secularism often feels like the default, the book argues that traditional religious faith is not only plausible but intellectually superior to atheism or agnosticism. It's a call to move beyond the "arid desert island of secular disenchantment" and consider belief seriously.

Beyond wishful thinking. This isn't an argument that religion is merely psychologically comforting or socially useful, though it can be. The core claim is that religious perspectives align more closely with the actual evidence of reality than purely secular worldviews, offering a more complete understanding of existence.

An invitation to seekers. The book is aimed at skeptics, agnostics, and even believers with doubts, suggesting that engaging with its arguments will sharpen thinking and potentially lead to wonder and worship. It positions religious belief as a rational decision, not just a leap of faith.

2. The universe shows compelling signs of design and order.

Indeed, to the contrary, the scientific revolution has repeatedly revealed deeper and wider evidence of cosmic order than what was available to either the senses or the reasoning faculties in the premodern world.

Beyond simple accident. The ancient intuition that the universe's complexity and beauty point to a designer or inherent divine order remains valid. Modern science, far from disproving this, has revealed even deeper levels of order, from mathematical laws to the precise fine-tuning of physical constants necessary for life.

Cosmic fine-tuning. Discoveries like the Big Bang theory suggesting a temporal origin for the universe, and the "anthropic" coincidences showing the universe's exquisite balance for life's emergence, challenge the idea of a purely random or indifferent cosmos.

• Cosmological constant: 1 in 10^120 chance for random occurrence in life-permitting range.
• Nuclear force: Infinitesimally small changes would prevent necessary elements for life.
• Gravitational/electromagnetic force balance: Crucial for star and planet formation.

Science confirms order. While specific pre-modern models (like the Ptolemaic system) were overturned, science consistently replaced them with deeper, more elegant understandings of cosmic order (like elliptical orbits). The scientific project itself relies on the assumption that the universe is governed by predictable, beautiful systems.

3. Human consciousness is a profound mystery, uniquely fitted to the cosmos.

The soul may not be exactly as ancient religions imagined it, but under any conceivable paradigm it will always be very much alive.

The 'hard problem' persists. Despite advances in neuroscience, the fundamental mystery of how physical processes in the brain give rise to subjective conscious experience (qualia, selfhood, agency) remains unsolved. This "hard problem" suggests mind is not simply reducible to matter.

Mind precedes matter? The strange role of observation in quantum mechanics, where conscious observers seem to collapse potentiality into definite reality, hints that mind might be more fundamental to the universe than materialism allows. This aligns with religious ideas of a cosmic Mind.

A key fitted to a lock. Human reason's extraordinary capacity to understand the universe's deep laws, far beyond what's needed for mere survival, is improbable under a purely contingent evolutionary model. It suggests our minds are uniquely fitted to unlock the cosmos's secrets, as if intended to do so.

4. Supernatural and mystical experiences are real and persistent.

But disenchantment as a description of human experience is a false paradigm, fundamentally mistaken about what it’s like to be a human being in the modern world.

Defying secular expectation. Contrary to the idea that modernity means the death of magic and miracle, supernatural experiences persist across cultures and time, even among skeptics. These range from generic mystical feelings to encounters with specific beings or apparent physical miracles.

Varieties of experience. Mystical experiences include:

• Generic: Sense of oneness with the universe or realization of the immortal self.
• Encounter: Feeling the presence of something absolute and 'other'.
• Personified: Visions or voices from specific beings (angels, gods, spirits).
• Miraculous: Apparent effects in material reality (healings, strange occurrences).

Beyond hallucination. While psychological and biochemical factors are involved, the clarity, intensity, and transformative nature of many experiences (especially near-death experiences, which occur when brain function is diminished) challenge purely reductive explanations. The persistence of these phenomena, even when culturally discouraged, suggests they reflect something real beyond individual minds.

5. Converging evidence makes religious belief a rational obligation.

The point is that there’s an array of flashing lights, not just a one-off illumination inside the shadows of the Bada Bing.

Multiple indicators. The case for religion isn't based on a single argument but on the convergence of evidence from cosmic order, consciousness, and persistent supernatural experience. These different lines of inquiry all point towards a reality that is structured, intentional, and interactive with human beings.

Beyond agnosticism. Faced with this converging evidence, simply remaining agnostic or indifferent becomes less reasonable. The universe doesn't appear as an inscrutable, meaningless void, but rather one filled with potential meaning and purpose that demands a response.

A call to action. Recognizing these signs implies an obligation to investigate further. It means taking seriously the possibility that human life has ultimate significance and that there are realms of reality beyond the purely material that are accessible and relevant to our lives.

6. Committing to a religious tradition is wiser than solo spiritual seeking.

But this beginning is not where you should hope to end.

Beyond individualism. While initial exploration can be individual, permanent solo seeking is often less effective than joining a tradition. You are likely not a religious genius capable of inventing a robust, coherent worldview alone.

Wisdom of the crowd. Religious traditions represent centuries or millennia of collective reflection, practice, and experience. They offer tested maps, rituals, and ethical frameworks that are likely more reliable than a self-made system.

• Provides a corpus of ideas and theories.
• Offers evolved technologies for spiritual alignment.
• Presents a shared history and narrative.

Community matters. Religion is fundamentally communal. Practicing with others provides support, shared experience, and reinforces commitment. Sacred spaces and collective rituals deepen the sense of the sacred and connection to something larger.

7. Major world religions offer tested paths, despite their differences.

But taken together they suggest a story of development in human religious understanding, where the big religions came into existence, won converts, and spread around the globe because they represented a shared advancement in theological and moral understanding, an ascent toward more coherent worldviews and greater proximity to truth.

Beyond total falsehood. The existence of many religions doesn't mean only one is true and all others are entirely false. Major traditions often share core premises and represent a historical movement towards more transcendent and universal conceptions of divinity compared to earlier tribal religions.

Convergence points. Major faiths often converge on:

• Higher powers are more important than local spirits.
• Focus on transcendent goals and ultimate destiny.
• Natural world governed by divine laws.
• Greater emphasis on human agency and moral choice.

A reasonable starting point. Given their historical significance, resilience, and shared advancements, starting with a major world religion (Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism) is a reasonable bet for a seeker, more likely to lead towards truth than obscure or newly invented faiths.

8. Choosing a tradition involves wrestling with key questions and personal fit.

So in exploring faiths as a religious novice, it makes sense to start with religions where those effects are already manifest, where there’s no question that the faith has historical significance and staying power.

Navigating diversity. While major traditions share common ground, they also differ significantly on key questions. Choosing involves considering these divisions:

• Ethical vs. Experiential vs. Liturgical emphasis.
• Monotheism vs. Polytheism.
• Eternal damnation vs. Reincarnation vs. Universalism.
• How God appears in history (decisive revelation vs. ongoing process).

Beyond abstract analysis. While intellectual wrestling is important, personal fit and experience also matter. Cultural background, family inheritance, social connections, or even unexpected encounters can reasonably guide a seeker towards a specific tradition.

Permission to start. You don't need to resolve every theological debate before committing. Choosing a tradition that resonates, even if not perfectly certain of its absolute truth, is a valid way to begin the journey and invest your "talents."

9. The problem of evil doesn't disprove God or invalidate religion.

But to claim that the argument is easily settled against divinity, that it’s such a slam dunk as to justify outright atheism and not just argument and doubt, is a pretty peculiar presumption.

Human perspective is limited. The argument that suffering disproves a good, omnipotent God assumes humans can fully judge the cosmic balance of good and evil from a limited, timebound perspective. It also relies on a moral framework that itself often implicitly assumes human dignity and capacity, which are better explained by religious views.

Beyond classical theism. Even if suffering challenges the idea of a perfectly good, all-powerful God in the classical sense, it doesn't negate the evidence for other forms of divinity. Many religious perspectives posit gods who are powerful but not omnipotent, or a divine principle that encompasses both light and shadow.

Suffering and belief. Historically, people facing immense suffering often maintain strong religious faith, suggesting the problem of evil is not an automatic or universal barrier to belief, but rather something wrestled with within faith.

10. Institutional religious sin doesn't invalidate faith itself.

It is certainly true that the history of organized religion is steeped in wickedness and sin.

Shared human failing. While religious institutions have committed terrible acts (Inquisition, wars, abuse), this is true of virtually all organized human endeavors (governments, families, businesses). The presence of sin within an institution doesn't negate the value or truth of the ideals it represents.

Religion as a civilizing force. Major religions have often acted as forces for moral progress, challenging worldly powers and advocating for universal values (abolition, human rights). Blaming religion for most wars ignores the secular drivers of conflict (conquest, resources, ideology).

Choosing wisely. While acknowledging historical and ongoing sin, seekers can choose traditions or communities that emphasize accountability, humility, and service, or those whose structure inherently limits the potential for abuse of power.

11. Traditional sexual ethics don't negate religious truth.

If God cares about anything, He cares about sex; if any of your choices matter eternally, your sexual choices probably matter more than most.

Sexuality's significance. The idea that a cosmic power wouldn't care about human sexuality—a fundamental aspect of bonding, community, and procreation—is counterintuitive if human life has cosmic purpose. Sex is deeply intertwined with human behavior, for good and ill.

Beyond simple oppression. While traditional sexual ethics have been used to justify oppression, they also represent centuries of collective wisdom about managing powerful desires and building stable relationships and communities.

Modern challenges. Societies that have largely abandoned traditional sexual norms face new challenges (declining marriage/birth rates, alienation, unhappiness), suggesting the old rules, while needing critique or adaptation, contained important wisdom not easily dismissed as mere puritanism or patriarchy.

12. Personal experience and context can guide commitment.

For us, there is only the trying. The rest is not our business.

Beyond perfect certainty. You don't need absolute certainty or a definitive resolution to every theological question to commit to a faith. The journey of faith is often one of "trying," of acting on provisional understanding and allowing experience to deepen belief.

Following the nudges. Personal history, family background, cultural context, unexpected encounters, or even simple attraction can serve as valid starting points for commitment. God can work through these contingent factors.

Investing your talents. Choosing a tradition that is available and resonates, even if it's not definitively proven to be the only true faith, is an investment of your spiritual "talents." It's better to engage with a tradition that offers partial truth and guidance than to remain paralyzed by indecision.

Last updated: May 12, 2025