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3.c Our perception Now, temporarily set the reality of God to one side. Consider people's perceptions of God and see how different they are. Christians do not agree with Hindus, nor Muslims with Buddhists. Within each religion there are strong disagreements. Even the most minor of issues - such as whether women or gay men can become priests - are ultimately disagreements over the nature of God. (God's nature is such that he welcomes breasts behind the altar, or such that he abhors them.) What is going on here, of course, is not the reality of God, but believers' perceptions of him. And as we all know, our perception may be wrong. We think that our friend John is arrogant, but he is desperately insecure and shy. Our ancestors were convinced that the sun revolves around the earth, but the reality is that it is the earth that moves. Some of us believe that easy access to guns reduces crime, and ignore the statistics that show that gun-free nations have fewer violent deaths. 3.d Perceptions and reality are different The lesson to be drawn from this is simple: perceptions do not always match reality. Pat Robertson's perception of God differs from that of Rick Warren, as they both do from Ayatollah Khamenei and the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem. Each of them, along with every other believer, may argue that their perception of God reflects reality, but we know that that is impossible. Only one of them can be right, and maybe none of them is. (And, as we will see later, each believer perceives - creates - the image of God that suits them rather than reality.) And at this stage of our investigation we have to accept that even the atheist's perception of reality - that God does not exist - may be wrong. So let's come to the conclusion that only one of the following statements is possible and the other two are wrong: i. God exists and and some people's perception of him is accurate; some believers are right, some believers are wrong and all atheists are wrong OR ii. God exists and nobody's perception of him is accurate; all believers and all atheists are wrong OR iii. God does not exist. all atheists are right and all believers are wrong 3.e So what? Surely this is common sense? Do we need to be reminded of this? Actually, yes. Most believers are convinced that their perception of God matches reality. Many get upset when you tell them, well, yes, God may exist, but he may be very different from the way you think he is. But you can only have a rational discussion about God when you separate perception from reality. If God exists, he does so independently of each of his believers - our goal is not to investigate people's ideas of God, but the reality that may, or may not, be out there. Next: Chapter One: Section 4: The evolving God 
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If God existed, he would... admire the beauty of a universe that he did not create recognize that eternity is meaningless deny both heaven and hell disown all men and women who speak in his name denounce the harm caused by religious "morality" help the human race to thrive without him If God existed, he would be an atheist. What is the difference between science and faith? science is certain of nothing and requires proof of everything faith is certain of everything and requires proof of nothing Which do you trust? "I know there is no God" or "I believe there is no God" ??? Check the answer |
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