Can you be objective?

Question

This is a two-part question demanding that you make a HYPOTHETICAL assumption before answering. Be sure to answer both parts or you get no credit and will be labeled an ideologue without the ability to reason objectively.

If it were proven that god exists, name three benefits to society and explain why and how those benefit everyone.

If it were proven that god does not exist (remember this is a hypothetical question), name three benefits to society and explain why and how those benefit everyone.

Please avoid using the Internet or Bible for your answer. Explore your imagination and generate answers from within. This is not a question about whether or not god exists; it is asking what the world would be like in two different situations.

Answer 1

God Exists:

1. The question of the existence/reality of a supernatural being would finally be answered to everyone's satisfaction.

The benefit would be that the inherent divisive nature would evaporate thus bring those of various thinking and belief systems together.

2. God would be able to express to the people "how" he/she wishes to be honored.

This would end, once and for all, the infighting between the religions. It would end religious war because God would be able to tell everyone directly what his/her desires are and how they can be achieved.

3. God could/would have a direct impact on earthly events.

This would benefit all areas of human/flora/fauna life on the planet due to a better understanding of how things work within the creation itself. Global warming would no longer be an issue because God could tell us directly how to fix it.

God Does Not Exist:

1. The question of the existence/reality of a supernatural being would finally be answered to everyone's satisfaction.

The benefit would be that the inherent divisive nature would evaporate thus bring those of various thinking and belief systems together.

2. There would be no necessity to honor something outside of ourselves which is perceived to be greater than us.

This would greatly benefit the general self esteem of the human population. Everyone would become more creative and resourceful because they would understand that, quite literally, "the buck stops here."

3. There would be no external, supernatural impact on earthly events. The only external event that might have catastrophic impact would be if a huge meteor hit the planet.

The benefit to us would be, in a word, "responsibility." Being in a position where you are unable to look "outside" for blame (an example of this would be "It's God's will.") would require that we take full responsibility for our actions. This would set a fire under the collective bottoms of creative intellectuals who would be in an unfettered position to tackle the issues and events that threaten our world and our existence.

Answer 2

First, even hypothetically, you can not prove that a thing doesn't exist, be it god or Santa. This means your second "If" is a bit off.

If a god exists, proved or not, will change very little except that people's outlook on life and reality would change. Whether this would be beneficial or not would really depend on the nature of the god that was proven and how well "documented" its wishes are.

In the case that gods are proven to be nonexistent, we would reap the benefit of looking at conflicts from other motivational factors and potentially work to heal the divisions without the religious overhead. It would also free up resources that are spent pushing and resiting religious education in public schools. Another potential benefit is that we could look at laws from the viewpoint of benefiting or hurting society withoout the religious/moral overhead.

Answer 3

God exists: this presumes a personal god who grants an afterlife rather than an impersonal deistic type of God.
1. Immortality
2. Comfort in the idea of being reunited with dead loved ones
3. Sense of being watched over by something more powerful

God doesn't exist:
1. We can stop fighting over whose God is right and stop pushing beliefs on others who don't share them. We realize its our humanity that unites us not our religious beliefs.
2. We can focus on building societies and laws based on objective evidence and studies rather than dictates in ancient texts that may have limited applicability in modern society.
3. We can't use religion as a screen for bigotry, sexism, and inequality.

Answer 4

If it were proven that god exists, name three benefits to society and explain why and how those benefit everyone.
1. Order (logic as farther than man can comprehend presently). (Teaching it also; schools thru Universities)
2. Love
3. Healing (hospitals and doctors included).

If it were proven that god does not exist (remember this is a hypothetical question), name three benefits to society and explain why and how those benefit everyone.
1. Given that I have identified 7 deviation to God's word presently (especially in USA where I live); it is hard to see the 'benefits'. I presently see here 'every man for self (pride); anarchy;chaos'.
2. None
3. None
3.

Answer 5

If god existed:
*I'd actually have something to look forward to after death, be it heaven or hell...
*There would still be hope that god could change things
*Everyone could finally stop arguing and believe in the same god

If god didn't exist
*Everyone would finally stop quoting the Bible
*No one would be scared of going to hell
*Everyone could quit arguing about which god is the true god


Edit: Wow! Why all the thumbs down for everyone except those who didn't answer the question? Hmmmm...

Answer 6

good question :)

Proof that God exists would naturally lead to:
1. no more war
2. no more religion
3. no more Hate

Proof that God does not exist would naturally lead to:
1. no more religion
2. no reason but posessions to fight for
3. the introduction of rational thought into everyones lives

you would notice that if God was either proven or disproven, the need for religion would cease to exist. this i feel would be the highest good that either situation could offer. without religion, you remove the vast majority of the reasons which we fight and hate eachother.
Since God is Love and God has been proven to exist, there would be nothing but Love left for us to share, and Hate would be abolished. we could get on with our lives and live them in peace knowing that God is with us.
Since knowing that there is no God would eliminate the need to prove ones personal viewpoint on the subject and convert people to believe that way, there would be the ability to get along among all nations and peoples. we would finally be just people. It would also create the platform for reason to take center stage and be the "law of the land".

either way, i think the world would be better off! funny how that works out....

Answer 7

God exists- Chaos rules (he can break the laws of physics- not always good however), protection from 'evil' (objectively good & evil don't exist- they are subjective opinions) & the possibility of immortal life without suffering.

God doesn't exist- Stability & balance in the universe, nobody is killed by the wrath of God etc, and there's possibility of no rebirth/no more suffering after death.

Answer 8

I'm not looking for "credit", but I honestly don't believe that the answer to this question one way or another would create any benefits for society.

Answer 9

A: God is in control
There is justice in the end
We have somwhere to look to in times of trouble

B: Man is in control
No need to worry about other people
I can run , hide and no one need ever find me ever again!!!!

Answer 10

Irrelevant question. Truth is important. Whether god exists or not, we should seek the truth.