No Myth or Ceremony Required: Humility & Skepticism

I do not know much. There is so much knowledge in this world that human beings have had over our time here and I know less than 1% of it. I’m also certain that humans as a whole have never known even 1% of what there is to know. Among these things are some of the most important bits of knowledge imaginable, like the origin of our universe or how to live together peacefully.

When I think of God, Allah, Zeus, or the Tooth Fairy I envision them as beyond the scope of human understanding. These are forces that are so unimaginably powerful that they have evaded every aspect of human perception for millennia. How am I supposed to be significant enough to do anything that would please these beings? Why should I think that these ultimate, powerful beings even want to be worshiped when they have gone completely out of their way to avoid detection? Sure, if you go out of your way to find God you will find him; probably on a piece of toast or a grilled cheese sandwich. But that is just pattern-seeking behavior, much like staring at the tiles on my bathroom floor long enough reveals an epic battle between dragons and space aliens.

It might seem like I don’t believe in a conscious higher power at all, but this isn’t the case. I’m simply not certain of either thing. On top of that, I don’t think I’ll ever find out for sure either way. Egotism allows us to think that there is nothing in existence that cannot be known. I meet people everyday who say that they are 100% sure that God exists or doesn’t exist. Some are absolutely certain that evolution is real or is completely wrong. Humility is a huge part of my personal philosophy because of this. The second that I consider myself “absolutely certain” of anything it means that my mind is closed from that point.

I think that egotism also leads people to believe that they are the favorite pet of an all-powerful being. If God created me, he has given me enough for me to function in life and make myself happy. I don’t think God wants me to worship him. I think God just wants me to use my life to make myself and others happy. I cannot see the purpose of a God that creates life just so they can tell him how awesome he is. I cannot see any circumstance where an all-powerful God cares if I have sex before I get married. I believe that if God exists, he is as a parent: loving, nurturing, and wanting only for His creations to be happy and fulfilled in the short life they are given.

I prefer to do the best I can with the resources I have. I have sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch for example, so I will do the best that I can to lead a happy and fulfilling life. I have the senses of conscience that make me feel good when I do something nice for someone else and make me feel bad when I do something immoral. I have a sense of purpose that leads me to aspire to do more with my life than I am doing now. Most people don’t appreciate their own senses enough, but I think that these are the true blessings of life. If I was created without the sense to perceive God, then I feel it is His wish to not be noticed.