1 quotations found:

Is it brave to believe in God, Gregory wondered. Well, at the lowlevel, it might be brave because few people believe in him nowadays, and it isa kind of courage to remain steadfast in the face of apathy. At the highlevel, it is brave because you are elevating yourself to the status of God'screation; you are proposing yourself as something higher than a clod of clay-- which takes some daring. You are also, perhaps, offering yourself up to thepossibility of final judgment: Does your nerve still hold at the thought ofthat? When you say you believe in God, you are the child who raises his handin class. You draw attention to yourself, and you receive a public decision:Right or Wrong. Imagine that moment. Imagine the fear.Is it braver not to believe in God? Again, at the low level, this demands acertain tactical courage. You are telling God he doesn't exist; what if hedoes? Will you be able to handle the moment when he reveals himself to you?Imagine the shame. Imagine the loss of face. And at a higher level, you aredeclaring the certainty of your own nonexistence. I end. I do not go on. Youare not even giving yourself a sporting chance in the matter. You arecomplacent in the face of extinction; you decline to contest its smugdomination over you. You stretch out on your deathbed confident that you haveunderstood the question of life; you boldly declare for the void. Imagine thatmoment. Imagine that fear.

Source: Staring at the Sun
Date: 2001