"Why would it be better to invest myself in a set of beliefs than to follow my own internal motivation?" ~Mark

"We as humans derive our values and personal motivations from adverse sources. Some of us choose to invest our faith in a set of beliefs, while others prefer a psychologically egoistic paradigm.

What we gain from our experiences and the knowledge that is socially imparted to us, is a perceived conception of reality. This differs for every person and is fundamental to any legitimate social theory. From this perception, we can reasonably decipher our personal values and beliefs. This exists on a purely individualistic basis.

So we are presented with a choice: to believe in God or not. The answer to this question can be influenced by many people and ideas. Depending upon the frame of reference, it will be perceived as correct by some and wrong by others. Ultimately the decision becomes self evident. We invest ourselves in an externally derived set of beliefs, or our internally derived ones.

So what kind of calculus is involved in that decision?I'll tell you mine at the moment: We are, at our very core, rational beings. We would not be capable of any abstract thought if that were not the case. I feel that it is more rational and pragmatic to approach life in the context of self interest [happiness], justice, benevolence and public utility. We as individuals can be internally motivated to practice these values, completely independent of other ideological influences. Investing faith blindly in something as exigent as your approach to life seems unreasonable. So I can't see the value in investing myself in a set of beliefs that are fundamentally dogmatic.

My question is, why would it be better to invest myself in a set of beliefs?"

~Mark

Thank you so much for your question. I really appreciate your thought process, and I’m glad you are searching for your own answers.

I agree that we are created with the ability to reason. We are also created with emotions and complex psychological processes that have nothing to do with logic. We are also influenced, as you said, by an entire set of external influences that are different for each person. Hence, based on life experience, emotional reactions, and psychological predispositions, individuals can use logic to come to different conclusions.

One problem with trying to use an internally derived set of values is that there is essentially no standard of right and wrong. You as an individual may have certain morals, but what do you base them on? Do you go by what feels good? What about someone who feels good when he/she molests a child or hurts another person? Does that make it right for them?

Another thing to consider is that self-interest (personal happiness) can conflict with justice, benevolence or public utility. What’s best for the public may be to throw yourself on a bomb in order to protect 50 other people…but that’s certainly not best for personal comfort and enjoyment. Also, some think justice involves vengeance, but do they take benevolence into account?

I think we had a very clear example this past Monday of what can happen when an individual’s personal value system leads him to chaos and destruction. This young man who killed 32 people at Virginia Tech apparently believed in what he was doing and felt he was carrying out justice against a society that had wronged him.

Nobody in their right mind would commend him for following his heart and doing what he felt he needed to do. On the other hand, how can anyone say that truth is relative and yet blame this man for what he did? Nobody can say that everyone has a right to create their own morals, then complain when somebody’s morals are “bad” or “incorrect” or in disagreement with somebody else’s. If there is no standard, there is no standard. Period.

I believe that God imparts a set of standards for good reason. It is not a bunch of rules inflicted because He is a party-pooper and wants us to be uptight and miserable. We are created in His image, and something within us longs for what is right. That is why most humans do feel good and right when they are doing what aligns with God’s will.

If you’ll allow me to indulge in a little personal history, I’ll tell you why I believe that God simply wants the best for us and from us when He asks certain standards of us. I grew up in the church and always tried to do what I was told. It was mostly a matter of wanting to stay out of trouble and to be commended by my elders. I believed in God, but I thought of Him more as a domineering father of some kind—a “big brother” in the sky who was watching everything and just waiting to critique people and be disappointed. When I got to college, I was the stereotype of someone who got away from mommy and daddy for the first time and decided to do all the things I was never allowed to do. I was doing whatever I wanted, whenever I felt like it. I was in control and “having fun.” Funny thing was, I was miserable. I was hurting my body and damaging my heart. I came to realize that God’s “rules” that I was running from were guidelines that would keep me safe from myself and actually give me the freedom to be truly happy.

More importantly, I finally came to see that God is not about rules. I fully gave my heart to Jesus when I figured out that He wanted to love me and be involved in my life. He was chasing me because He wanted me as a beloved daughter, not an obedient robot. Once I put my trust in Him, I became more free to discover who I am—not less free, not bound to a set of unattainable standards, not brainwashed. I’ve heard someone compare this relationship to rock climbing: you need to be tied to a support system if you want to be the most free to explore and climb around. You are timid and limited if you are on your own, because you could slip and fall and die so easily. But tethered to the Rock, you are secure and free because you have something to fall back on. You have limits for your own safety and wellbeing.

I’m sorry this became longer than I intended. I hope this has been helpful in answering your question. Above all else, I want you to know that for me it has nothing to do with a set of beliefs or rules. Yes, I do find life to be more fulfilling and joyful within God’s standards. But what it comes down to is the fact that the God of the universe is pursuing a relationship with me; and with YOU. Did you know that He treasures your heart and wants to love you? That is why He sent Jesus to die for you. He already paid the way for you by dying on the cross, and all you have to do is believe in Him and ask Him to be your savior too. I will include the link to our website that will walk you through it if you want to make this decision. http://www.everystudent.com/features/gettingconnected.html

I will be praying for you as you are thinking about and processing these things. Please feel free to write back if you’d like to talk more about this or any other topic. May God bless you as you seek Truth!

Your friend,
Karen

P.S. I wanted to include this excerpt from C.S. Lewis that my husband found. I read it after I wrote the above email, so I would use my own words instead of trying to adapt someone else’s thoughts. I thought it might be of interest to you.

“'Can’t you lead a good life without believing in Christianity?' This is the question on which I have been asked to write, and straight away, before I begin trying to answer it, I have a comment to make. The question sounds as if it were asked by a person who said to himself, ‘ I don’t care whether Christianity is in fact true or not. I’m not interested in finding out whether the real universe is more like what the Christians say than what the Materialists say. All I’m interested in is leading a good life. I’m going to choose beliefs not because I think them true but because I find them helpful.’ Now frankly, I find it hard to sympathize with this state of mind. One of the things that distinguishes man from the other animals is that he wants to know things, wants to find out what reality is like, simply for the sake of knowing. When that desire is completely quenched in anyone I think he has become something less than human. As a matter of fact, I don’t believe any of you have really lost that desire. More probably, foolish preachers, by always telling you how much Christianity will help you and how good it is for society, have actually led you to forget that Christianity is not a patent medicine. Christianity claims to give an account of facts—to tell you what the real universe is like. Its account of the universe may be true, or it may not, and once the question is really before you, then your natural inquisitiveness must make you want to know the answer. If Christianity is untrue, then no honest man will want to believe it, however helpful it might be: if it is true, every honest man will want to believe it, even if it gives him no help at all.”