I No Longer Require a God — Joshua Berkowitz

Certain personality types feel better when they have a God. I am not one of them. Though it is they who are slowly becoming the endangered species, I do recognize why a God is needed to fill the void.

There are at least five reasons that account for why certain personalities require a God:

1) The need for unity, harmony or integrity.

Some want a unified theorem for our universe. Perhaps they are looking for a mathematical proof or a logical syllogism that can explain human existence. I don’t need it – or even want it. I am happy to live in a world discovered continuously, and undergoing evolutionary and human-made changes, rather than one declared complete (and perfect) by a Heavenly voice.

I am always impressed by painters who are convinced that their artwork is improved with one last dab – even if that extra splash of paint is unnecessary. They are reluctant to put their projects on sale for fear that they will no longer be able to augment them. I was stunned, for example, in recently learning that Maimonides kept re-editing his works. As he kept learning, he changed his mind. That did not preclude him from sending his writings to influence others, but the constant editing showed that he was receptive to their comments.

I prefer to see the world as I do my fingernails; they are continuously in need of trimming.

2) To appreciate the beauty of nature, they need to be awed by a Creator

I have no problem in appreciating nature despite not believing that a Creator is responsible. To me, beauty is a human construct. What is beautiful is cultural. Many scholars have shown that the shape of women that men have had a lust addiction for and the fashions that women wanted for themselves is related to time and circumstance. What I perceive to be beautiful is dependent on my mind and evolution. I am forever enchanted by the beach perhaps because once my ancestors crawled out of the sea.

3) Some need a black and white world.

There are those who need their morality - among other things – never to fall into a slightly dark shading. While we can all agree that running over an innocent infant with a car while rushing to a clandestine amorous rendezvous is immoral, I can appreciate why advocating for universal freedom can occasionally lead to a heartless and merciless society. The notion that we can achieve perfect equality can also yield brutal and crushing results. One needs to investigate the environment; otherwise, you advocate for unnecessary cruelty while wrapping yourself in pietistic or patriotic cloth.

I don’t feel that my compass is without a needle because neither religion nor a god-based morality guides me. I can live in a world with multiple shades of grey.

4) The world must be dependent on something.

Pascal’s famous watchmaker analogy has been analyzed ad infinitum, so I will not review the results of that discussion here. The only thing I will say on this subject is: Who created God?

5) Some need a personal God.

I don’t need to feel gratitude or feel a dependence to achieve self-worth. That does not mean I am not grateful to those who helped me, especially if they suffered as a result. But I don’t feel an urgent need to be continuously appreciative.

I exist without a God, period. But am indebted to all who abetted in my development, regardless of whether they like the outcome.