One thing that makes Christianity such a powerful meme is that it has specifically developed defenses that seem designed to counter this kind of argument. They’re actually written right into the Bible.
Matthew 4:7-
″
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]””
Basically, the exact kind of test you’re talking about, an attempt to falsify the hypothesis that God exists and will protect you, is something that you are explicitly forbidden from trying to do in the Bible. Even the act of suggesting it as a course of action is associated with the Devil.
The fact that Christianity has such well-developed internal defenses against being challenged is one reason it’s been such an effective meme. Also, perhaps more interesting, I would say that the fact that it was felt that they needed to do so proves that even at the time the Bible was written there were rationalists (or at least proto-rationalists) challenging religion on rational grounds, and the early religious leaders felt the need to counter those kinds of arguments.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Mere belief in belief is also, it would seem, not enough.
The problem, I think, is that most people are looking for the quick-fix, easy-button, where they don’t have to actually do anything.
So when they see things like Matthew 17:20
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
They assume that if they just believe hard enough then miracles will happen while they sit on their butts and watch.
But… What would be the necessary consequence of a person’s faith saying that the mountain should be cast into the sea? And of everyone actually, truly believing it?
Would they not leave all other concerns behind? Grab a pick and shovel and set to work leveling the mountain? And if even just a million people all believed in that goal that strongly? How long could even a mountain stand?
But it’s been 2000 years and nothing has changed. Most people don’t believe what they say they do. And not just about religion either. For most people professing belief is just a membership card for a social club. True belief inspires action.
The core of Christianity is that we don’t really need big, oppressive systems of complex rules enforced with an iron fist to make the world a better place. That, in fact, such systems cannot possibly make the world better. We just all need to be helpful and kind to each other and the complexity will take care of itself. The math to prove it has only been developed in the last century or so, and, unfortunately lots of people get distracted by the mystical portions of the religion to the point where if you suggest that there are provable, this-world benefits to believing and acting this way a lot of them will at least look at you like you’re crazy, if not outright denounce you as a heretic.
Which isn’t to say that there are no rules. Even if you don’t believe that God is sapient, it’s still the force that set the moon and stars in their places. That ensures cause always leads to effect. You either align your plans with how it works, or you fail. One-in-a-million miracles happen because we don’t fully understand all the rules. But God is immutable, you can’t change his mind by praying or begging or sacrificing animals. So don’t rely on miracles. Don’t test God by asking for the impossible. Even if you believe he’s sapient—the Game Master of our world if you will—he doesn’t make exceptions to the rules. There has to be a way to accomplish any miracle within them, or it won’t happen.
The Bible is revered, with good reason, for being one of the oldest surviving attempts at explaining all this. But the people who think it’s the only one aren’t looking very hard. And anyone who thinks it’s the best one (on its own, without lots and lots of extra study on the cultural setting and philosophical underpinnings) should be invited to read Shakespeare and see if they manage to pick up on all the dick jokes. The gap between modern culture and the Bible is at least five times that. It’s not a simple, easy read, no matter how good the translation.
One thing that makes Christianity such a powerful meme is that it has specifically developed defenses that seem designed to counter this kind of argument. They’re actually written right into the Bible.
Matthew 4:7-
″ 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]””
Basically, the exact kind of test you’re talking about, an attempt to falsify the hypothesis that God exists and will protect you, is something that you are explicitly forbidden from trying to do in the Bible. Even the act of suggesting it as a course of action is associated with the Devil.
The fact that Christianity has such well-developed internal defenses against being challenged is one reason it’s been such an effective meme. Also, perhaps more interesting, I would say that the fact that it was felt that they needed to do so proves that even at the time the Bible was written there were rationalists (or at least proto-rationalists) challenging religion on rational grounds, and the early religious leaders felt the need to counter those kinds of arguments.
And yet, Matthew 7:22-23
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Mere belief in belief is also, it would seem, not enough.
The problem, I think, is that most people are looking for the quick-fix, easy-button, where they don’t have to actually do anything.
So when they see things like Matthew 17:20
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
They assume that if they just believe hard enough then miracles will happen while they sit on their butts and watch.
But… What would be the necessary consequence of a person’s faith saying that the mountain should be cast into the sea? And of everyone actually, truly believing it?
Would they not leave all other concerns behind? Grab a pick and shovel and set to work leveling the mountain? And if even just a million people all believed in that goal that strongly? How long could even a mountain stand?
But it’s been 2000 years and nothing has changed. Most people don’t believe what they say they do. And not just about religion either. For most people professing belief is just a membership card for a social club. True belief inspires action.
The core of Christianity is that we don’t really need big, oppressive systems of complex rules enforced with an iron fist to make the world a better place. That, in fact, such systems cannot possibly make the world better. We just all need to be helpful and kind to each other and the complexity will take care of itself. The math to prove it has only been developed in the last century or so, and, unfortunately lots of people get distracted by the mystical portions of the religion to the point where if you suggest that there are provable, this-world benefits to believing and acting this way a lot of them will at least look at you like you’re crazy, if not outright denounce you as a heretic.
Which isn’t to say that there are no rules. Even if you don’t believe that God is sapient, it’s still the force that set the moon and stars in their places. That ensures cause always leads to effect. You either align your plans with how it works, or you fail. One-in-a-million miracles happen because we don’t fully understand all the rules. But God is immutable, you can’t change his mind by praying or begging or sacrificing animals. So don’t rely on miracles. Don’t test God by asking for the impossible. Even if you believe he’s sapient—the Game Master of our world if you will—he doesn’t make exceptions to the rules. There has to be a way to accomplish any miracle within them, or it won’t happen.
The Bible is revered, with good reason, for being one of the oldest surviving attempts at explaining all this. But the people who think it’s the only one aren’t looking very hard. And anyone who thinks it’s the best one (on its own, without lots and lots of extra study on the cultural setting and philosophical underpinnings) should be invited to read Shakespeare and see if they manage to pick up on all the dick jokes. The gap between modern culture and the Bible is at least five times that. It’s not a simple, easy read, no matter how good the translation.