It’s about time I posted the third half of my musings about God: The Failed Hypothesis. Though the book makes a good case for the non-existence of the Abrahamic God, it could have been argued better. The book’s real strength lies in its discussion of evolution and cosmology. Where the book ventures into morality and meaning, the ground gets a bit squishier.
Morality
The idea that morals can come only from religion infuriates me. Maybe that’s because while I have a sense of right and wrong, I didn’t know where it comes from, or why it’s so insistent. Chapter seven seems to express a similar anger by citing studies that show that believers have higher rates than secularists of such failings as divorces and teen pregnancies. (This strikes me just as self-righteous as the prophets complaining about how immoral the people are. You could argue that the fact the people can’t live up to these precepts means a superhuman entity is setting superhuman standards, but the book isn’t about counterarguments.) Moreover, it digs up the more repugnant (to us) sections of the Bible, such as rules for the “right” way to hold slaves, or God telling his people to commit atrocities.
So where does the “inner light” that rebels upon reading such things come from? Whatever moral relativism might lie on the surface, at the core, all cultures share a common set of moral standards. Everyone says that theft and murder (within your group) are wrong, and that bravery and generosity are good. The ideals taught in scriptures can be found in earlier civilizations, including the Golden Rule, turning the cheek, and loving your enemy.
What gets really interesting is recent research finding natural morality in social mammals: altruism, cooperation, sharing–and conversely, enforcing the rules against cheaters. We evolved to be good for the group.
Meaning
In chapter ten, this book is more successful than The View from the Center of the Universe and Cosmic Jackpot, in the struggle to find meaning. After pummeling religion as being bad for the world, the book admits that without god, you lose the holy father cherishing you. You lose the afterlife. Some of the most beautiful music is inspired by love for god. Religious stories speak to the human condition. Still, I was disappointed by how dismissive this book is of contemplative prayer and meditation. Also, its fixation on combating the Abrahamic god gives it little time to consider Buddhism, except to dismiss it too.
With science, we get longer, healthier lives. We are inspired and humbled by the natural wonder of the universe. (Like these pictures of the Sun, courtesy of Jeff Carver) And if our fleeting existence within the vastness of the cosmos is too much, remember that Thomas Nagel said, “It does not matter now that in a million years nothing we do now will matter.” What matters is what happens now.
The search for meaning comes down to a search for how to decide what matters. We need to find meaning in each other and making the world a better place. If you want something specific, the book offers Peter Singer‘s advice, that you work to reduce suffering.
Not the last word.
While I had some bones to pick with this book, it’s incredibly informative and thought-provoking. While you can never be certain about such things, the Abrahamic God seems pretty unlikely. I feel much more comfortable about getting by without him. Other flavors of god, though. That’s what I’m really interested in…
Writing Every Day 