Dr. Bill: A Pagan in Paradise FAQ

• When did you stop believing, and why? First of all, this wasn't my parent's fault. They took me to church every Sunday and tried to bring me up as a spiritual person. It just didn't take. I was about eight years old and was busy collecting animals during the summer. Because I had a healthy interest in dinosaurs and cave men, I was familiar with some basic evolutionary concepts. As I examined my collection, I realized that each of these creatures also had an evolutionary history. Then I thought "No Easter Bunny, No Tooth Fairy, No Santa Clause, No God" and it was then clear that supernatural explanations weren't needed to explain the world around me.
• Most people believe in some sort of deity. How can they all be wrong? Reality is not a democratic process upon which we vote. At one time most people believed the world was flat and that the universe revolved around the earth. This is clearly not the case.
• Don't many scientists believe in God as well as evolution? Sure, but scientists can also be misled. Again, we don't vote on reality; it simply exists. When Einstein quipped that "God does not play dice with the universe", he was not showing a belief in a deity (that he didn't is clear from his other writings). He was poking fun at the new field of quantum mechanics (which clearly shows that, if there were a god, he does indeed play dice with the universe!).
• Every culture has a religion. Can these all be wrong? An alternative explanation for the universality of religions is that people have evolved to be gullible. One can certainly see some evolutionary advantages to believing in the unbelievable. Our ancestors wouldn't have to explain storms, floods, plagues, and other disasters by simply attributing them to God's mysterious ways. Likewise, religion would provide a bond among people, would provide them with a consistent belief system, and would provide leadership through the priests. For a large social ape, religion would  provide organization for the group. Unfortunately, those that don't follow your religion may find themselves in trouble since more wars and atrocities have been fought in God's name than for any other reason.
• So we are fooled into believing in God? Yes! In fact, the portion of the brain that is involved in spirituality has been identified; a so-called "God spot". This area apparently predisposes us toward religious experiences. That's not too surprising; we are "tricked" into many relationships by our hormones, innate behavior patterns, and genes.
• And you teach your kids this? No. The two little ones go to Catholic School and attend church regularly with their mom. They're welcome to come up with any belief system they wish, but it's important that they come to their own decision. Most people never examine their religious beliefs and instead just follow those of their parents.
• Aren't you afraid of dying since you don't believe in heaven? Nope! In fact, the realization that this is my only chance drives me to make the best of the short time I have. In fact, if I did believe in heaven, I would be afraid of dying since I would also believe in hell. If God is the god of justice as described in the old testament, then most of us would be in trouble.
• What then is the purpose of your life? There is no purpose to life. No destiny. No Calling. Life exists only as a mechanism to create more DNA for the next generation (see "The Selfish Gene").
• And your view of the Universe? A good description is in Dawkin's book, "River Out of Eden":

  In a universe of blind physical forces and genetic replication, some people are going to get hurt, other people are going to get lucky, and you won't find any rhyme or reason in it, nor any justice. The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil and no good, nothing but blind, pitiless indifference (p.133).

  And that's a good thing; because if the universe were ordered and fair, then you'd deserve everything that happened to you!

• Without spiritual guidance, how can you be a moral person? Certainly laws and the threat of imprisonment can serve as a potent reminder to stay on a moral path; but even without these, a Darwinian morality would still affect my behavior and those around me. Imagine a young male Australopithecine with a bad temper and antisocial behavior. Such a male would soon be ostracized from his social group. Without the protection of the group and with reduced chances of mating, the genes that affected his antisocial behavior would be removed from the population. Thus, treating others as you would like them to treat you can develop through natural selection (a Darwinian Morality). If you pay attention to the interactions among social animals of the same species, you will find that they pretty much follow the Golden Rule or Ten Commandments. This is compelling evidence for a sense of morality developing through natural selection without a moral authority. Certainly, some individuals will eat their young as will some humans commit murder. These individuals merely represent combinations of genes or new mutations that result in antisocial behavior and this behavior will be weeded out by natural selection processes. A further discussion is here.
• Doesn't that lead to a nihilistic and depressing view of life? I guess it could, but I still enjoy time with friends and family, strawberry shortcake, puppy breath, and thunderstorms. Whether or not life and the universe have a purpose has absolutely no effect on any of that!