nolan_void

This is from a game called Hecatomb, in which you play as one of four Apocalyptic forces to bring about the end of the world. It is quite Lovecraftian, but alas, it is collectible and I have given up collectible games of any sort. Once you start the collectible path, it will forever dominate your wallet.

I have been thinking about the prospect of taking the natural inclinations of people towards a belief in higher or transcendent authorities/powers as evidence for the existence of such things. This runs really contrary to a lot of my skeptical leanings, but after thinking it through I feel like it may be a good way to philosophically get religion off the ground and running.

When I look at analytical/skeptical/doubtful people, people who are used to becoming disillusioned with things that they once held true, I see a lot of unhappiness. Conversely, people that are able to maintain some sort of faith in a higher power seem to, in general, be happier people. Despite my constant determination to keep a sharpened and critical mind, it seems that it can often lead people into the directions of desperation and suffering. Taking everything apart may seem like a reasonable approach to life, but scientific or naturalistic analysis of the world looks only at the parts and seems to have little (if any) regard for the whole (which I do believe is greater than the sum of the parts).

I digress. It seems to me that most people who have some sort of faith or belief in a higher power are generally happier and better equipped to handle hardship in life. They share strong social ties that often keep them afloat. They have concrete morals that support their decisions and convictions in life. All of these things can and are problematic for many religious adherents, due to zeal or minimal understanding of the tenets of the very system they practice in, but I think human beings have a natural tendency towards those kinds of beliefs and are generally healthier mentally when supported by them.

So the question I now ask myself is, if I believe that life is

a) more than accidental naturalistic phenomena
b) actions yield consequences

does it logically and reasonably follow that the apparent benefits of living a spiritually grounded religious life can be taken as evidence of the actual existence of a guiding, transcendent, and intention driven force that

a) is benevolent

and

b) can be appealed to?