In my opinion, our beliefs can't change the nature of reality, but the force of our beliefs can change ourselves. We are desperate for meaning and value, and if a certain way of relating to the Truth (i.e. faith in God, faith in our fellow beings, faith in the universe, faith in ourselves, faith in life) can grant us all these things, that in itself is a proof that our faith is not misplaced. For the one of the proof's that something exists is that it produces effects.
I think when people talk about faith and religion, they tend to overestimate the "truth" factor and underestimate the "attitude" factor. Chesterton expressed this idea when he wrote: "Children are grateful when Santa Claus puts in their stockings gifts of toys or sweets. Could I not be grateful to Santa Claus when he put in my stockings the gift of two miraculous legs? We thank people for birthday presents of cigars and slippers. Can I thank no one for the birthday present of birth?"
Yes, I think we can thank our parents for the present of birth, and we can thank our genetic makeup for our view of life and our miraculous bodies, if we have the need to thank something or someone for our existence.
I think when people talk about faith and religion, they tend to overestimate the "truth" factor and underestimate the "attitude" factor. Chesterton expressed this idea when he wrote: "Children are grateful when Santa Claus puts in their stockings gifts of toys or sweets. Could I not be grateful to Santa Claus when he put in my stockings the gift of two miraculous legs? We thank people for birthday presents of cigars and slippers. Can I thank no one for the birthday present of birth?"
Yes, I think we can thank our parents for the present of birth, and we can thank our genetic makeup for our view of life and our miraculous bodies, if we have the need to thank something or someone for our existence.
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