How can you tell a god-fearing person that their belief is childish and silly? I’m sure that using the words “childish and silly” is a non-starter. But how do you do it?
I love the Beatles song “Imagine.” — John Lenin, who obviously knew from experience that one cannot tell another, straight out, that there is no god, is telling the world that there is no god. His approach is, wisely, to suggest that one ponder the possibility. It’s brilliant. It admits that it will only happen over time.
I often think of the phrase “image all the people” and its many implications. It demonstrates an understanding of why atheism is such a difficult thing to accept. As I ponder a solution for what it would really take for people to give up their gods, I’m reminded of ‘all the people’ who would be instantly, completely lost; their lives without meaning, because their values and virtue is measured in solely religious terms. That, to me, is evidence of religion’s failure: that it poorly equips people, philosophically, to deal with moral and ethical questions in rational terms, without the need for authority to “bless” their (often bad) logic.
Imagine all the people living for the hereafter. For them to admit that it’s all an infantile dream, having been proved wrong after taking a strong position, they would have to swallow their pride because of all the things they’ve said out loud, and/or taught their children. It will never happen for many because of the potential humiliation is too much, and personal pride is so powerful. (And yes, i realize the irony of using “pride” as a religious person’s motivation against atheism).
Imagine all the people who would be instantly, completely lost; their lives without meaning, because their values and their base for virtues is solely religious. That, to me, is evidence of religion’s failure: that it poorly equips people, philosophically, to deal with moral and ethical questions without their religion.
That’s why change seldom takes hold without people getting old and generations passing and dying with their beliefs.