Most religious believers will insist that their religious beliefs are reasonable; few religious believers will argue that their beliefs are emotional in nature. Given just how strongly religion typically appeals to emotional values as opposed to intellectual values, this is curious. Do believers not think that emotional reasons for belief are valid or worthy?

Mano Singham writes:

The emotional appeal of religion is strong. It is appealing to think that there is some sense of cosmic justice where good is rewarded and evil punished. It is nice to think that in the afterlife, those who suffered unjustly will be rewarded and that there is a heavenly war trial where all those who have been responsible for willful and major human suffering would face their ultimate comeuppance. I think that it is this emotional appeal that keeps people faithful to religion. ...

But atheists know that no such cosmic justice exists. The fate that evil people ultimately face is the same as the fate that anyone else faces, and that is death. Paradoxically, this need not be depressing but actually can serve as a call to action. If this is the one life that we have, it becomes clearer that our obligation to ourselves and to others is to make sure that it is the best it can be, so that everyone had a chance at a decent life.

If we seek justice, then it has to be done by us right here on Earth. That buck cannot be passed. That is the message that atheists have to offer to people. It may not have a soothing effect but is more likely to lead to concrete action.

When people believe that there is some sort of ultimate cosmic justice waiting for us, it's easier to deal with the lack of human justice here and now. Sometimes this may be comforting because there are so many examples of where human justice was necessary but unfulfilled. Other times, though, this may prevent concrete action because people believe that it doesn't matter too much if they achieve human justice — God will sort things out in the end. This can readily allow for the innocent to suffer... far too readily. We should perhaps be willing to dispense with the comfort of such beliefs if it means even a small increase in the real justice that can be achieved here in the real world.

 

Religion & Religious Beliefs:

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• Definition of Religion
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• Religious vs. Non-Religious Belief Systems
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