Do we need God?

I have been offering answers to what one atheist called The five best reasons not to believe in God.  The fourth reason offered by the atheist in this article is, "We don't need him."  He says, "This isn’t exactly an argument against the truth of God, but it is a reason to stop worrying about him. We don’t require God – he is an unnecessary addition to the universe, and it can get along perfectly well without him."

If atheists are right and there is no God then I would concede we do not need a false pretense of one.  However, if a creator God does exist then of course we owe him for our very existence as the cause of the universe and can never hope to fully repay him for giving us life.  We do not merely rely on God for comfort or moral commandments.

I am reminded of when President Kennedy said, "ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country."  Yes, we pray to God for help and comfort, but we were made to serve God, not the other way around.

The atheist Bible critic then shows his ignorance by equating Muslim Sharia law with Old Testament Bible law.  He writes, "This is quite apart from the fact that many of the laws in the Bible are just wicked. We have not, thankfully and for the most part, transferred most of Leviticus and Deuteronomy into modern law. Those Islamic states who have, and which enforce Sharia law, are widely regarded as zones of horror by most sensible people."

The Islamic states are not, of course, getting their Sharia law from the Bible.  But as to the Bible I would point out that Leviticus and Deuteronomy were written most likely during the time of the exile from Egypt.  The Israelites were a nomadic people living in tents under harsh conditions in the desert.  Their laws had to be equally harsh in order for them to survive and would have been so with or without religion being involved.

And what does the author mean by saying that laws in the Bible are wicked? By what standard? Before the Bible there was no standard.

The author says people "survive and thrive perfectly well without a God concept or religion". Yes, this is true for some people, but not all. I can survive without family and friends as well, but I wouldn't be a very happy person without them. Likewise, I think that I am happier believing in God. Without my faith, I would be lost, and sadly I see many people who have lost their faith who don't seem to be happy people.

I am not alone in this feeling. Many people say they are happier once they find faith after trying and failing to find happiness elsewhere.

In fact, even if God doesn't exist, that doesn't mean we don't need a belief in God. Religion usually comes with a moral code that keeps us from killing one another, keeps us from engaging in risky behavior and encourages being a good person living in a supportive family. 

Yes, religion can also be misused to promote violence and hate. That only means you need to be discerning.