In a world increasingly driven by material pursuits, the quest for inner peace has never been more urgent. Amidst the turmoil of modern existence—wars, personal crises, and societal fragmentation—the human heart instinctively seeks anchors of meaning. For millions, belief in God remains that profound source of tranquility, offering not just personal serenity but also collective harmony to societies across history.
Dismissing or ridiculing faith in God simply because it does not align with secular worldviews is to ignore centuries of civilizational growth built upon spiritual foundations. The philosopher William James, in his seminal work The Varieties of Religious Experience, rightly observed that religious belief has historically served as a moral compass for humanity, shaping personal conduct and broader ethical frameworks. The rejection of this foundation is not only a dismissal of individual convictions but also a threat to the social fabric that sustains peace.
True intellectual honesty requires that we acknowledge the benefits religion has provided to humanity, even when one does not personally subscribe to theological doctrines. To oppose belief in God when it provides comfort, ethical direction, and social cohesion is not progressive—it is reactionary. This article explores why opposing belief in God, when it promotes peace, is counterproductive to the intellectual and emotional well-being of societies.
1- The Role of Belief in Providing Emotional Stability
Religious faith has historically served as a cornerstone of emotional resilience for millions. In times of crisis, whether personal or societal, belief in God gives people hope, courage, and strength to endure hardships. Psychological studies consistently demonstrate that religious individuals often report lower levels of anxiety and depression due to their spiritual anchoring. The sense of being part of a divine plan offers a framework for coping with suffering. As the philosopher Immanuel Kant asserted, “Religion is the recognition of all our duties as divine commands,” providing people with responsibility beyond mere material life.
Suppressing this stabilizing force would be akin to pulling the rug from under the feet of those navigating life’s storms. Modern secular philosophies may provide rational frameworks, but they rarely offer the same depth of existential comfort that belief in God provides. For individuals standing at the edge of despair, faith can be the difference between collapse and courage.
2- Belief in God as a Source of Moral Framework
Faith-based belief systems are not merely about ritual—they are about fostering ethics and justice. From the Ten Commandments to Islamic teachings of compassion, religious doctrines have guided societies in developing humane laws and justice systems. The anthropologist Bronisław Malinowski argued that religion’s primary role in society is to serve as “a charter for behavior,” forming the bedrock of civilization.
Dismissing faith without appreciating its ethical dimensions risks weakening the moral compasses that societies have followed for millennia. The claim that morality can flourish purely in secular terms remains contested, with scholars like Alasdair MacIntyre arguing in After Virtue that modern ethical systems struggle without religious underpinning. Removing belief in God may eventually lead to a rudderless society adrift in ethical relativism.
3- The Psychological Need for Transcendence
Human beings are not just flesh and bone—they possess an inherent longing for transcendence, something greater than themselves. Religion meets this need by connecting people to a divine narrative. Renowned psychologist Carl Jung described religion as a “defense against the overwhelming forces of unconsciousness.” Without belief in something beyond the immediate world, many people succumb to nihilism or hedonism, both of which fail to provide lasting peace.
Modern secular societies, while rich materially, are increasingly plagued by existential crises. The growing number of mental health issues globally underscores humanity’s need for meaning. To oppose a belief system that provides such transcendence is to ignore this fundamental psychological truth.
4- Faith Fosters Social Cohesion
Communities built on shared religious values often demonstrate stronger bonds of trust, solidarity, and mutual assistance. Festivals, congregational prayers, and communal charity are examples of how religious belief fosters unity. Émile Durkheim, one of the founding fathers of sociology, argued that religion serves as a “social glue,” bringing people together in shared rituals and meanings.
Rejecting the role of religion in community life risks promoting individualism to the extent that it fractures collective bonds. As modern societies drift toward isolation, we should embrace—rather than oppose—the institutions that foster unity and collective strength.
5- Belief as a Check on Tyranny and Oppression
Throughout history, religious belief has often stood against tyranny. Prophets, saints, and reformers invoked God’s authority to challenge corrupt rulers and oppressive systems. The famous cry of Moses before Pharaoh, “Let my people go,” was not just a political statement—it was a divine mandate for justice.
Dismissing belief systems as primitive overlooks their revolutionary power to confront injustice. Modern secular ideologies, though powerful, often lack this metaphysical weight that empowers individuals to risk everything for justice. Opposing faith undermines one of humanity’s most potent historical tools for liberation.
6- Scientific Progress Rooted in Theistic Worldview
Contrary to the simplistic view that science and religion are opposed, many pioneers of modern science were driven by their belief in a rational Creator. Isaac Newton, Gregor Mendel, and Al-Ghazali all saw scientific inquiry as a means of understanding divine order. The idea that the universe is orderly and comprehensible is itself rooted in theistic assumptions.
By opposing belief in God, we risk severing the philosophical roots that birthed modern scientific exploration. Secular science can thrive, but its very foundations were nurtured in religious soil. Ignoring this fact is historically inaccurate and intellectually dishonest.
7- Religion as a Buffer Against Materialism
In a world obsessed with wealth and possessions, belief in God provides a powerful antidote to unchecked materialism. Faith encourages detachment from material desires and promotes generosity, charity, and humility. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Wealth is not in having many possessions. Rather, true wealth is the richness of the soul.”
Opposing belief in God, particularly in consumerist cultures, means leaving societies vulnerable to spiritual impoverishment. Without the spiritual checks that faith provides, humanity is in danger of reducing existence to a mere shopping spree, hollow and unfulfilled.
8- Faith and Human Rights Movements
Many of history’s greatest human rights campaigns were driven by religious convictions. Martin Luther King Jr., inspired by Christian teachings, led the American Civil Rights Movement. Likewise, Islamic scholarship has produced movements for justice, including the abolition of slavery centuries before it became fashionable in Western discourse.
Rejecting belief in God risks erasing these religious roots from our collective memory. Secular humanism may claim moral superiority, but it often forgets the spiritual roots of the very rights it now champions. Faith deserves recognition, not opposition, for its role in securing these victories.
9- The Comfort of Ritual and Tradition
Beyond theology, religious rituals provide rhythm and meaning to life. The morning call to prayer, the breaking of fast during Ramadan, and Christian Sunday services are not just religious observances—they are acts of communal beauty. Joseph Campbell emphasized that rituals are psychological necessities, providing symbolic meaning to life’s passages.
Opposing religious belief robs societies of these structured comforts, leaving people grasping for identity in a fast-paced, chaotic modern world. Faith provides cultural coherence, offering continuity amid change.
10- The Power of Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Religious teachings have been critical in fostering forgiveness. The Lord’s Prayer in Christianity—“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”—has shaped personal relationships and national reconciliation efforts. Nelson Mandela credited Christian teachings for guiding South Africa’s peaceful transition.
Without religious belief as a foundation, calls for forgiveness often sound hollow. Secular ideologies can offer justice, but rarely forgiveness. Opposing belief in God undermines this transformative principle that has healed countless broken relationships throughout history.
11- The Artistic and Cultural Legacy of Faith
From the Sistine Chapel to Rumi’s poetry, much of the world’s greatest art and literature has emerged from religious inspiration. Faith doesn’t just shape morality—it shapes culture. As T.S. Eliot remarked, “A civilization will perish if it ceases to value the religion that gave it birth.”
Secular opposition to faith risks cutting societies off from this cultural inheritance. To dismiss belief in God is to dismiss a rich legacy of artistic beauty, symbolic depth, and intellectual richness that continues to inspire generations.
12- Interfaith Dialogue Promotes Global Peace
Interfaith dialogue—conversations between different religious traditions—has been a significant factor in preventing conflicts and promoting global understanding. The Parliament of the World’s Religions and numerous UN-led initiatives demonstrate how belief in God unites people across divides.
Opposing religious belief closes the door on such dialogues. Without shared spiritual convictions, many global peace efforts would lose one of their strongest common grounds. Faith, properly understood, is not a divider but a bridge.
13- Faith-Based Charities and Humanitarian Work
Faith-based organizations like Islamic Relief, Caritas, and World Vision provide vital humanitarian assistance globally. Often, they reach areas untouched by secular NGOs. Their motivation stems from religious belief in serving humanity as a divine responsibility.
To oppose belief in God is to risk dismantling these vast networks of compassion. Humanitarianism without spiritual motivation may falter where faith-inspired service perseveres, even at great personal cost.
14- Faith Prevents Existential Despair
Belief in God provides existential answers to questions about life’s meaning, death, and the afterlife. Philosopher Viktor Frankl, in Man’s Search for Meaning, highlighted that those who found meaning in suffering—even if it was religious—survived the Holocaust better than those who did not.
To oppose this source of existential courage in the name of secularism is misguided. Faith is not merely a crutch—it’s a powerful psychological resource for confronting life’s most painful realities.
15- Religion Encourages Lifelong Learning
Many religious traditions have placed a high value on knowledge and education. The Islamic Golden Age produced advancements in mathematics, medicine, and philosophy precisely because scholars believed seeking knowledge was an act of worship. The Qur’an’s first revelation: “Read!”, set the tone for Islamic intellectualism.
Secular critics often overlook this positive relationship between faith and learning. Erasing belief in God risks cutting people off from this tradition of scholarship driven by spiritual devotion.
16- Belief in God and Environmental Stewardship
The concept of stewardship (Khilafah) in Islam or Imago Dei in Christianity positions humans as caretakers of the Earth. These religious teachings have inspired environmental movements that emphasize respect for nature as a divine trust.
Opposing religious belief threatens these ethical motivations for sustainability. Secular environmentalism often lacks the deep-rooted, sacred duty that religious traditions bring to ecological preservation.
17- Faith in the Face of Mortality
As humans confront death, belief in an afterlife often provides comfort no materialistic worldview can match. Faith offers hope not only for this life but for what lies beyond. Secular philosophies offer intellectual explanations, but they rarely comfort the bereaved the way religious beliefs do.
Opposing belief in God strips many people of the emotional support necessary to face mortality with dignity and peace. As Leo Tolstoy once admitted, only faith offered him lasting answers about life and death.
18- Belief in God Cultivates Humility
Faith teaches that humans are part of something greater, curbing arrogance and pride. Recognizing divine authority humbles individuals, fostering civility and respect for others. The philosopher Pascal warned of the dangers of human pride unchecked by divine reference.
Without this grounding, societies may drift toward hubris and entitlement. Opposing faith risks encouraging an inflated sense of human self-sufficiency, often leading to social breakdown.
19- The Global Majority Believes in God
It is intellectually dishonest to oppose belief in God while ignoring that the majority of humanity, across diverse cultures, holds religious faith. Surveys by Pew Research repeatedly show that global religious affiliation remains strong.
To oppose this global consensus under the banner of rationalism is a narrow, elitist stance. Faith continues to serve billions with peace, meaning, and direction. Intellectual humility requires respect for this reality.
20- Belief Inspires Sacrificial Love
From the stories of saints to the everyday sacrifices of faithful parents, religious belief often motivates selflessness unmatched by secular ideologies. The concept of agape in Christianity or ihsan in Islam exemplifies this unconditional love rooted in divine will.
Opposing faith risks diminishing this profound motivation for sacrificial love. Without the sacred, human relationships risk becoming purely transactional.
Conclusion
Faith in God, when rightly understood and practiced, provides humanity with peace, purpose, and resilience. It bridges the personal with the communal, offering both ethical direction and existential comfort. To oppose this force under the guise of intellectual sophistication is to rob humanity of one of its richest sources of harmony. In a world torn by conflict and confusion, belief in God stands not as an obstacle to progress—but as its truest foundation.
Bibliography
- William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience, Longmans, Green & Co., 1902.
- Immanuel Kant, Religion Within the Bounds of Bare Reason, Cambridge University Press, 1996.
- Bronisław Malinowski, Magic, Science and Religion, Waveland Press, 1992.
- Carl Jung, Psychology and Religion, Yale University Press, 1938.
- Alasdair MacIntyre, After Virtue, University of Notre Dame Press, 1981.
- Émile Durkheim, The Elementary Forms of Religious Life, Oxford University Press, 1912.
- Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning, Beacon Press, 1959.
- T.S. Eliot, Notes Towards the Definition of Culture, Faber & Faber, 1948.
- Leo Tolstoy, A Confession, Penguin Classics, 1987.
- Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Princeton University Press, 1949.
By Amjad Izhar
Contact: amjad.izhar@gmail.com
https://amjadizhar.blog
Affiliate Disclosure: This blog may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you click on the link and make a purchase. This comes at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers. Your support helps keep this blog running and allows me to continue providing you with quality content. Thank you for your support!
Leave a comment