What’s your next move? A natural reaction might be to shout, “Is anyone listening? If you are there, wise old man, please respond!” This seems quite reasonable, even if you’re skeptical about the existence of such a figure. The inquiry of whether this wise old man exists is significant enough to warrant exploration. In fact, unless you’re entirely convinced he doesn’t exist, it appears almost irrational not to reach out, as there’s little to lose.
Praying to Overcome Atheism
The analogy here is straightforward. You may not have faith in a deity, but if there’s even a flicker of belief that he exists and you consider the question of his existence vital, then it makes sense to pray for help in believing. Tim Mawson, an Oxford philosophy scholar, argues that this approach is entirely rational. In his paper “Praying to Stop Being an Atheist,” featured in the International Journal of the Philosophy of Religion, Mawson posits that if you perceive a non-negligible chance of God’s existence and regard the question as crucial, then, barring a few exceptions, you should pray for divine assistance.
This argument holds weight. The existence of God carries significant ramifications for your worldview, how you live your life, and even your perspective on mortality. Taking a couple of minutes to pray before bedtime isn’t a hefty sacrifice. If such a simple act could illuminate a profoundly important question, why not give it a shot?
What About Fairies in Your Garden?
You likely feel confident that there are no fairies residing in your flowerbeds. Yet, there remains a minuscule possibility of their existence. It wouldn’t take much effort to call out to them while preparing breakfast: “Hello, fairies! If you’re out there, please show yourselves!”
If Mawson’s premise is valid, shouldn’t we also reach out to the fairies? While we’re at it, we might consider contacting any extraterrestrials allegedly nearby, writing letters to Santa Claus as adults, and placing our teeth under our pillows for the tooth fairy, right?
Not quite. The key lies in evaluating the importance of the question at hand and the effort required to gain more insight. While discovering fairies might be delightful, their existence doesn’t carry the same weight as the existence of God. Additionally, calling out to a garden full of fairies might bring more trouble than you bargained for—think annoying your neighbors or baffling your housemates.
The Risk of Self-Deception
Another concern might be that engaging in prayer could lead to self-deception, making you more inclined to believe in God’s existence, even if he isn’t real. However, as Mawson notes, just because a test could yield a false positive (leading to belief in something nonexistent) doesn’t mean the test should be dismissed. Science thrives on experimentation, often facing the risk of misleading results, yet that doesn’t negate the value of inquiry.
Mawson emphasizes that praying is not about rigidly changing beliefs; instead, it’s a way to explore if your confidence in atheism might shift. He acknowledges that this “prayer as an experiment” concept applies to everyone. If a believer prays and receives no clear answer, that should lower their confidence in God’s existence. This openness to various outcomes is precisely why theists, agnostics, and atheists alike should engage in such practices.
Should You Pray to a God You Don’t Believe In?
Mawson concedes that praying to abandon atheism might not be for everyone. You need to find the question of God’s existence significant, believe there’s at least a small possibility of his existence, be willing to invest minimal effort, and not be overly worried about falling into delusion. Fortunately, these conditions apply to a considerable number of atheists. For them, it seems reasonable to engage in prayer.
At the very least, you can’t dismiss the potential benefits of praying. If you’re contemplating whether your atheism is justified, prayer could serve as a useful tool for reevaluating your beliefs.
Am I personally ready to start praying? I’m uncertain. I check all the boxes laid out by Mawson, and the significance of the “God question” prompts me to wonder why I haven’t given it more thought. Admittedly, the idea of praying to a God I don’t believe in feels a bit silly. However, since feeling silly is rarely a valid reason to avoid an action, I think I might just give it a try.
If you’re keen to dive deeper into Tim Mawson’s insights on why atheists should consider prayer, you can find a fascinating podcast interview with him here. Additionally, check out this intriguing “atheist prayer experiment” conducted by Premier Radio, where 70 atheists prayed daily for forty days, and the results are explored.
Summary
In summary, the question of whether to pray to a God you don’t believe in is a complex one, but if there’s even a small chance of God’s existence and you find the question significant, it may be worth a try. Engaging in prayer, even as an experiment, could provide insight into your beliefs without significant cost.