If it were possible to conduct a sociological experiment based on two questions Does God actually exist? and Do we believe God exists? The result could be four scenarios, each resulting in a different way of life and outcomes. These scenarios are:
- God doesn't exists and people don't believe in God
- There's no belief in God , but God Does exist.
- live our lives as if God exists but God actually doesn't exist
- God exists and we live as if God exists.
Let's examine these.
1.In this case where God doesn't exists and people don't believe in God , there would be no religion, churches or any spiritual beliefs, but there would be governments and civil laws. Without the self regulation of God fearing people governments would require stringent measures to maintain civil order. Vast police forces, strict laws with harsh penalties, and a method of tracking and monitoring individuals with IDs, cameras and voice recorders. Thus a scenario similar to what was portrayed in the novel "1984" by George Orwell is totally probable. A resent example was in Nazi Germany and can happen whenever a populace lacks spirituality or the government feels threatened.
Thus if suspected of a criminal act incarceration would be swift, the burden of innocence may fall on the accused and punishment would have to be swift. This would be necessary to ensure compliance with laws. Also for those who fall out of the mainstream, involuntary medication will be necessary to control overactive human characteristics of self gratification, pleasure, vengeance, anger etc. Without these artificial controls others would readily succumb to their every desire and governments would be overwhelmed with keeping order, treating and curing diseases. Also monitoring our every move and possibly our thoughts would be necessary. The result would be a cold uncaring, violent society, with no care to preserve anything for tomorrow, wasted resources and political anarchy.
This is a horrible, improbable scenario, but take the time to imagine such a world because it may be in our future. Today we have security reasons for identification cards, cameras, check points and for monitoring communications. But, if not corrected, things can get a lot worse with GPS systems to track individuals, prohibiting free movement, mandatory drug testing, curfews, strict population and resource controls. This is not a pretty picture, but it is a possibility.
2. The second case is when there's no belief in God , but God Does exist. Here life would be as bad as in the first case, except, on the promised judgment day, where we destroy ourselves. Without education and redirection this is a probable outcome. Today there are many who believe in God but their practices probably would not justify their salvation. At what point in their lives would repentance and forgiveness qualify them for salvation? The Scriptures say that God does punish evil, but even if not the case, how many of us will be worth saving and leaving the others to suffer in the evil they created.
3. In this case we live our lives as if God exists but God actually doesn't exist. Let's imagine a world with universal respect, charity and concern of one another. A world where people treated each other the way they wanted or the way we would want to be treated. A world without crime, poverty, hunger or major illness. People's medical, health and housing needs would be filled by a very prosperous society. There would be no advantage taken, individual wants wouldn't be excessive. Life will still face challenges taking care of our natural resources, developing alternative energy sources, space travel and recovering from natural disasters.
However, the need for governments would be minimal, to manage resources, heath care, education, scientific development, disaster recovery and such. Use your imagination, we would all live better, happier longer lives, even though, as in this case, God didn't exist. At the time of death, we would die knowing that we did our best, having little if any hardship, and that our children would continue to prosper. There's nothing better than living a long fruitful life and knowing that your offspring would likewise live. In this third case the only downside would be no resurrection, no life after death. However, we would die contented, happily believing in an after-life. Once dead, however there's no resurrection but we'll never know.
4. This last case is where God exists and we live as if God exists. This would be the same wonderful life as in three above with the added benefit of resurrection and/or life everlasting in God's paradise. Upon resurrection we would continue to live a happy existence.
Final Questions:In which of the above four cases would you want to live?
Which would you say most closely describes our society?