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6 comments
When someone doesn't have God, they are fine. They do not need God to survive.
Humankind does not need God. Believers want God.
I think that man probably needed the idea of God to develop the social and moral communities we have today.
When I think of man 'needing' God, I'm thinking of God/religion as a human-made construct. It's something that appeals to our innate need for belonging and for meaning. In this sense, religion is something that provided humans with [a social and moral framework for existence] (https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20141219-will-religion-ever-disappear).
The longevity of religions like Christianity shows the success of their provision of such frameworks. Seeing belief in God as something that plays [a vital role in societal evolution] (https://www.patheos.com/blogs/scienceonreligion/2013/05/why-the-templeton-foundation-is-a-darn-good-thing/) also accounts for [its popularity] (https://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/23/live-event-the-future-of-world-religions/) in parts of the world that are less economically or socially secure.
But I think that in the [modern-day West] (https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190801-tomorrows-gods-what-is-the-future-of-religion), a lot of the values that arise from religious belief - like justice and compassion for others - have become central to secular society. [Religious practice is declining] (https://blog.oup.com/2020/12/why-is-religion-suddenly-declining/), but it is still prominent, and it may well never entirely go away. However, I would say that the human need for it has.
Two interesting books on this topic are:
TL;DR -- Humans need some kind of "god" to function on a mental/emotional level. Whether that be a diety, person, or object, we all worship something.
First of all, it ought to be "humankind needs God," let's avoid the sexist terms here, please.
I think humans need some kind of god in order to feel intrinsically good about life. Whether that be the Christian God, any other diety, or even just a regular person or object, we all kind of worship something.
Have a favorite text, news source, or (insert media here) that is your go-to for information, entertainment, or even morals and values? There's your bible.
Have certain tasks you need to perform daily, or before you do bigger tasks, that you simply must do in order to get the bigger task done? There are your rituals.
Have a person whose every word you hang on, who you believe in with your whole heart and mind, like a mentor, celebrity, or best friend? Do you give them gifts often to show your love and/or impress them? Do you go to them with your problems and ask for their help or advice? There's your god.
Gods can even be items that we can't live without. For many of us, these are our phones. We trust them to a fault to organize our lives, act as sources of information, and function as communication devices, among many other things. For me, if I wasn't a Christian, it would be my video game consoles, because I can't get through a tough time without them.
Humans naturally fixate on things. It's an evolutionary trait that helps us make sense of the world around us, and even helps us to function in our daily lives. One researcher even compares our "religion instinct" to drug use/addiction (which, to some, drugs are their gods).
Think about the people and things in your life. Who or what do you "worship" or fixate on? I'd love to hear your answers!
To properly address this opinion, it is necessary to have a clearer definition on what it means to "need" and the nature of "God". By need, does it mean a physical or physiological necessity, or a spiritual and inward desire? By God, does it refer to the specific, anthropomorphic creator God in Abrahamic religions, or a non-specfied, deistic supreme being? A vague opinion like this demands specification.
Nobody can even demonstrate that God exists, and thus, it cannot be demonstrated that God is needed.
Make the case or invite a friend to comment!