Nonetheless, being an effective theory makes “God” somehow no less real than “rabbit”—or any other high-level concept we find practical in our everyday lives.
I guess the obvious point is that rabbits are a useful emergent concept if you want a pet or a pelt, while God is a useful though non-emergent concept if you want to feel that the universe has a purpose, or if you want to scare your children with God’s wrath. You can achieve both of the latter by other means though. You can’t avoid the concept of a rabbit if you want a pet rabbit.
I guess the obvious point is that rabbits are a useful emergent concept if you want a pet or a pelt, while God is a useful though non-emergent concept if you want to feel that the universe has a purpose, or if you want to scare your children with God’s wrath. You can achieve both of the latter by other means though. You can’t avoid the concept of a rabbit if you want a pet rabbit.