Must the Universe have meaning?
Is Religion necessary for Wisdom and Virtue?
Above: The BIG BANG Expansion, NASA/WMAP Science Team - Public Domain. In this schematic diagram, time passes from left to right, with the universe represented by a disk-shaped “slice” at any given time. Time and size are not to scale. To make the early stages visible, the time to the afterglow stage (really the first 0.003%) is stretched and the subsequent expansion (really by 1,100 times to the present) is largely suppressed.
Many believe that the Universe must have meaning, and if it doesn’t, their life lacks meaning as well. Many believe that meaning can only be provided by a god. Take away the god, and they fear that the Universe will collapse. They fear that if the Universe lacks meaning, then there is no point in living.
This belief may arise from the mistaken notion that virtue and wisdom come only from religion; that virtue and wisdom must be found outside themselves, in the Bible or the Koran or in whatever scriptures their sect subscribes.
They may fear that if these scriptures are taken away, everything will go to hell in a hand basket and the world will degenerate into one vast orgy, because without religion there can be no virtue, no wisdom.
Assume for a moment that the Universe lacks a guiding hand. Assume that the Big Bang Theory is correct. Assume that we are alone here on Planet Earth. Alone with the other life forms that have evolved with us on this beautiful blue orb.
Just for a moment, imagine there’s no heaven. John Lennon, "Imagine” YouTube
I understand and agree that many religious people are, or try to be, virtuous and wise.
But I don’t believe that religion is necessary for wisdom and virtue.
If your world revolves around your church or mosque or synagogue, please don’t leave it! Perhaps that community is the best place for you. This post isn’t directed to you at all. Nor am I proselytizing for atheism or agnosticism.
I want to talk to those who feel their life lacks meaning.
Above: Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, at Louvre. Roman copy after a Greek original of the 4th century BCE attributed to Cephisodotos or Euphranor.
We, as human beings, have acquired, and continue to acquire, the ability to use our reason to attain wisdom. We may not exercise that wisdom. We may not behave in a virtuous manner. But we have the ability to do so. We can and should find wisdom and virtue within ourselves.
Above: The owl of Athena, symbol of wisdom, surrounded by an olive wreath. Reverse of an Athenian silver tetradrachm, c. 175 BC
Religion is not necessary to be virtuous. Indeed one could argue that often religion is an impediment to acquiring virtue and attaining wisdom.
Rather than seeking wisdom from the scriptures, I suggest that we seek wisdom in humility. We should try to recognize that we are not that important. God may not be watching over us. The Good Shepherd may not be herding us safely here and there. But we are here together.
We do have a remarkable brain and the capacity to engage in dialogue with each other to learn, create, and grow. And we have each other.
Therefore we ought to care about one another, treat each other with kindness and respect, and use our curiosity to learn about this universe into which we have been born.
Above: Yoda, Lucasfilm Ltd. The Empire Strikes Back, 1980.
We should think about virtue and seek wisdom with humility.
Above: Maimonides teaches about the “measure of man” (compared to the earth and the universe, man is very small). Public Domain. Artist Unknown. 1347 CE.
We should do this not because we want to go to heaven, but because that is who we are as human beings: a caring and connected species trying to understand the world in which we live and the Universe into which we have been born.
So don’t worry if science and physics and astronomy fail to find evidence of God. We are here together for each other. Just ask Yoda!
Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. I am so glad you are here~!
What do you think? Meet you in the comments.
Being a good person is tough. The way you live or the place you worship could be the anchor point in your life. Not everyone believes finding solace in a place of worship. I heard once that if you take God fishing, he will listen to your concerns or problems or that is what a lot of the old folks used to tell me. Now that I am part of the "old folks" group I am starting to understand. I never hear of someone sculpting a large marble statue of anymore. Is it too difficult or time consuming? I believe someone that has the talent maybe doesn't believe enough. At 73 there is still a lot I need to learn about this universe and in the words of Carl Sagan “The universe is a pretty big place. If it's just us, seems like an awful waste of space.” When we are always assuming we end up like my boys used to say, "you know how assume is spelled? you will make an ASS out of U and ME. This is the rants and raves of someone waiting on the coffee to brew.
I couldn't agree more with your ideas here. Mom used to tell me to do things for others without expecting a reward. Doing something without expectation of fame or wealth, even doing things in secret, is the essence of what you've said here. (So why am I rewording it here? IDK) There are lots of people, a lot of them are the much-maligned billionaires, who make positive things happen by their means without a lot of fanfare. It must be really tempting for some to say, "Now wait a minute! I (wee) contributed to this health clinic ... arts program ... water facility ... etc. I tired of hearing people saying I'm evil because I'm rich." And then there are the penniless who share their meager sustenence with others. They may or may not be goaded by god, but they do it anyway because it's right. Thank you for this article, David. You're absolutely right.