I just had a religious discussion with a group of friends of mixed faith, from agnostic to Jewish to Christian. An atheist in the group was talking about how she agreed with her father that religion is just a crutch. Of course, I made all my best counter arguments alone in the car on the way home. Here they are, for potential future use:
1. The world is really messed up and isn't improving. You need only read the newspaper to know that. But add to that thoughts of your own impending death, not a happy thought (only hopefully not a constant thought) but an inevitable occurrence that we all have to face someday.
2. Under these circumstances, why not have a crutch? A crutch is something that that helps you get by in the world. Heck, why not have lots of crutches?
3. So, yes, belief in God could be viewed as a crutch because it helps one get by in this world messed up life.
4. But look what else could be considered a crutch. Couldn't a group of mommy friends be viewed as a crutch in that light, letting us share our frustrations and support one another as parents? Likewise for comfort foods, spouses, jobs, parents, and thousands of aspects of human survival. Using a crutch in this sense, then, isn't something of which to be ashamed. It's normal and healthy.
5. Also, being a crutch makes it no less valid or true. A crutch is something to lean on when you need help. If God exists, isn't He the ultimate being to lean on? So you can't make the argument that God doesn't exist simply because "weak" people rely on Him. Regardless of whether or not He exists, weak people will rely on Him.
6. Finally, look at the other options. In a messed-up world with your own death imminent, which option would you pick as the most rational:
Option A- do it on your own, or
Option B- partner with an all-powerful, all-knowing God who designed the world, cares about/for it, knows how it ends, AND has your best interest in mind?
Really, even if God weren't real, it would simply make more sense to assume He is, just to be on the safe side. After all, if He didn't exist, you just get snuffed out with no consequences for having been so "weak". But if He does exist, you've got yourself a spot in eternal life!
