Belief in God an Emotional Crutch

Belief in God an Emotional Crutch

Is the Belief in God an Emotional Crutch/Coping Mechanism?

Introduction

Karl Marx once said, “Religion is the opium of the masses”. By this he meant that religion had certain practical functions in society that were similar to the function of opium in a sick or injured person: it reduced people's immediate suffering and provided them with pleasant illusions which gave them the strength to carry on. Today, many atheists agree with Marx; they claim that people simply believe in God as a way to cope with the struggles and hardships of life (get them through in life). For instance, when Christians go through a rough time, they will read the Bible, pray, and remind themselves that God loves them and will take care of all their problems – that is to say;

When a person is concerned about something, they can pray/read the Bible as a means of seeking answers
When a person is stressed, they can unload their burdens to God
When a person is angry, God will calm them down,
When a person is sad, God will comfort them
When a person is hurt, God will heal them,
When a person is hated by others, God will still love them

When viewed in this way, it seems that God is nothing but a fairytale for grownups – a nice story that gives people comfort when they are scared or afraid (the troubles of the world are like the boogeyman under the bed, and God is the fairytale that keeps the person safe/prevents them from fear and worry). God is nothing more than a ‘crutch’ for emotionally and psychologically weak minded people who are unable to cope with the problems of life – an opium that will give them the strength to carry on in life.

So is this true – are people using God as a ‘crutch’ to help/aid them ‘walk’ through the difficulties of life – a ‘tool’ used to aid, strengthen and help them (‘get up’) during times of hardships? Is the concept of God nothing more than a man made invention (construct of the human mind) as a means of dealing with the problems of the world and giving them what they want in times of crisis (wish fulfilment factors)? There is no doubt that people turn to God in times of crisis and need. In fact the Bible supports this (Christians are told to give their burdens to God and take refuge in Him etc). However, this does not mean that a person believes in God on the sole basis of emotional comfort or physical needs.

The belief in God is a rational belief

People believe in God because the concept of God is a rational belief in explaining some of life’s most important questions. For example;
- God’s existence best explains why anything exists (life, universe) rather than nothing (Argument from Contingency)
- God’s existence best explains the cause of the universe coming into existence (Cosmological Argument)
- God’s existence best explains all the design, information and complexity in the universe and human body (Argument from Design/Teleological Argument)
- God’s existence best explains the existence of objective morality (Argument from Morality/Axiological Argument)

The belief in God requires Believers to defend their belief/has consequences

According to the Bible, those who put their faith in Jesus (who is God) will be hated, insulted, mocked, persecuted, rejected by friends, disowned by family, imprisoned, and even face death for worshipping Him, obeying Him, and believing in Him. In other words, believing in God requires people to take a bold and courageous stand for their belief; to defend their belief even if it costs them their job, family, or even their life (suffering and hardship)! Does this sound like an emotional crutch or something a person would invent/construct in their head? Is this the kind of behavior you would expect from someone that ‘runs to God’ crying in times of need, hardship and desperation? No. In fact, many people reject Christianity because it is not an easy life (it is not easy or comforting to be persecuted or face death, that is, it takes strength to obey God, to endure persecution and hardship etc). Thus, the belief in God is something that requires people to act strong in times of crisis, to be brave when facing persecution, to stand and not flee when times get tough. In other words, the Christian way of life is going to be difficult. And while we Christians believe God will be with us and comfort us during these times, this does not mean the problems are magically going to go away simply because we pray to a God.


Also, those who put their faith in Jesus are expected to obey Him and give up their selfish evil ways (greed, fornication etc). They are also expected to forgive their enemies (e.g. forgive someone that murdered their child) Again, these are not the kind of things a person would invent - as they are not very appealing (no one gets happy or excited when they are expected to forgive the person that murdered their child)

Rejecting God is a crutch/coping mechanism

Rather than viewing God as a crutch, perhaps we ought to ask ourselves as to whether atheism is a crutch. For instance, there are many people that refuse to believe in God (turn to atheism) because they have had bad experiences with God and religion. As a result, they use atheism as a way of helping them with their emotional discomfort.

Conclusion

Yes, there are many people that use God as a way to cope with their problems. Sadly, many charismatic churches use God in this way (false faith – trusting in God only when He gives you what you want). But when we examine the concept of God more thoroughly, we see that it is (1) a rational belief in explaining some of life’s most important questions (2) a belief that requires strength, courage and boldness in times of hardship, such as persecution

“an opium that will give them the strength to carry on in life.” – Hydroman

Opium paralyses the individual and poisons the soul – its toxic dependance is so instantly strong, the user cant function in society, hold down a job, or care for themselves privately. You won’t find those traits among religious folk.

You find them among the godless, thoughtless, and neglectful who don't mind breaking laws when it's convenient.

ALL living creatures are *dependant * on God, whether they know it or not.

Religion also gives meaning to life and a purpose in this world. God leads them to be better humans. They serve the downtrodden and poor, work to uphold justice, insist and employ ongoing education for all ages. They lead active lives, improving community solidarity while fostering virtue and talent…and so on.

How can one man’s dismissive remark ever hold sway on a people, especially on those who strongly desire the betterment of others?

That said, why do atheists want people to avoid religion?

There isn’t one of us that won't reach for a pill when we’ve got a pounding headache or bad cold. Few would refuse necessary surgical procedures or oxygen supplementation. These aren’t “feel-good” treatments. We apply them because they prevent further damage.

Same for marriage, courts of law, hospitals, schools, counseling agencies etc. God was the first to say DO that, even if it’s uncomfortable. He ordered beleivers to respect and serve their parents. Yet who do we see dumping them in nursing homes and never visiting them again?

Reliance on God isn’t opting out of society and its supports and equipment.

Hopefully, this topic won't devolve into a 'prove God exists' debate with atheists. They've already made up their mind. However, if a fence-sitter asks what the importance of religion is, then we've got a listening ear. Many think they can believe in God but not need religion.

We should answer the question exactly as it was asked, not diverge into promoting one religion over another or carrying on about evil and hell. We don't want to cut off the ear. We must set our passions (emotions) aside and meet the need with a sober reply. Here's an example:

"O my friend! In all circumstances one should seize upon every means which will promote security and tranquillity among the peoples of the world. The Great Being saith: In this glorious Day whatever will purge you from corruption and will lead you towards peace and composure, is indeed the Straight Path."

~ Bahá'u'lláh