I’ve always found the question, “why do you believe in God?” difficult to answer. When asked, my instinct is to provide intellectual reasons for my belief. For example:
I believe because…
- …I find the philosophical arguments for God’s existence compelling (e.g. the cosmological, ontological, teleological, and moral arguments).
- …the writings of men like Blaise Pascal, Gottfried Leibniz, René Descartes, and Sir Isaac Newton ring true to me.
- …evidence put forth by scientists like Stephen Meyer, Michael Behe, and James Tour, points to a Creator.
- …Christian apologists like Frank Turek and William Lane Craig present logically sound reasons for belief in God.
However, I read something recently that made me rethink my answer to the question. It was on the last page of a book called Symbolism and Belief by Edwyn Bevan.
The actual reason people believe.
To paraphrase Mr. Bevan, people don’t come to a belief in God because they are convinced by rational arguments, rather, belief in God comes first, and the arguments provide a justification for their belief. The final sentence of Symbolism and Belief reads as follows: “What actually causes anyone to believe in God is direct perception of the Divine.”(emphasis mine)
I’ve been pondering this statement for the last few weeks. Is it true? And if it is, what are the ramifications? I’ve been reflecting on my own belief, and thinking about the testimonies of other believers, and I think Mr. Bevan is correct.
What does it mean to perceive?
Merriam-Webster defines the word perceive as follows: to attain awareness or understanding of.
Awareness of something automatically creates a belief in that thing’s existence. For example, when I see the coffee mug sitting on the desk in front of me, based on that perception, I believe the mug exists. It would be difficult (not to mention irrational) for me to believe the mug does not exist. I can see it. I can touch it. My direct perception of the mug is strong evidence for its existence.
But how does one perceive the Divine? Does it require a supernatural experience? I personally have never witnessed a miracle, or received a visit from an angel. I’ve not seen God with my eyeballs. I’ve not heard Him with my ears. What then constitutes my direct perception of the Divine? Why do I believe?
Certainly, things that I have seen, heard, and felt have contributed to my awareness and understanding of God. In my mind’s-eye, I see countless experiences and memories, small slices of my life, as if they were photographs. Some of these “photos” are dark, while others have a powerful glow that hints at something beyond the material world. When all the pieces are viewed together, they form a mosaic. They create an unmistakable “image” of God.
That is the best way I can describe my personal perception of the Divine, and it’s as compelling a reason for me to believe in the existence of God, as seeing my coffee mug is reason to believe in the existence of the mug.
Lights in the darkness.
If belief in God comes from direct perception of the Divine, what then is our role in helping others come to belief? I believe Jesus spelled it out for us in the sermon on the mount.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Mathew 5: 14 -16
When Christ is at the center of our lives, we become like beacons that nonbelievers can see. When they see Christ in us, they perceive the Divine, and that is what leads them to believe.
The bottom line is, we’re not likely to change anyone’s mind about God by telling them the intellectual reasons for our belief. No doubt, they have already heard and rejected such arguments. As such, our focus ought to be on living out our faith so that others can perceive the Divine in us.
