God as a Coping Mechanism

I am not going to debate about the existence of God here. This article isn’t about that but rather about what the idea of God does to humans. In the pursuit of absolute truth, we often negate what and how something does to us. Perhaps we should start looking at things in a different light.

Imagine someone going through a rough time. Maybe the person lost his/her loved one, got fired from a dream job, is experiencing anxiety or stress, or is feeling uncertainty. Assume the person is an atheist; he/she has to deal with reality. Stress and anxiety don’t fade away just by words of affirmation. Reality doesn’t comfort. It does the opposite.

Assume (again) the person is a believer; he/she can cope with poverty, rough times, and almost all sorts of horrific things by saying to themselves that God is with them. She might say, “God doesn’t put me through this if He thinks I cannot endure,” or “God has greater plans for me.”

An atheist probably will say, “Hard times don’t last long” or “This shall pass.” We all have coping mechanisms. We all deal with stress, anxiety, and difficult situations differently. But throughout humanity, God has been the constant coping mechanism for most.

The idea that there is someone above makes a person sleep peacefully. The idea soothes the turbulent soul and comforts the anxious mind. If someone were to come and take away the idea, it would leave the person with a huge void. The person might slip into addictions to free themselves.

Although the idea of God encompasses other aspects of humans and their affairs, I believe the coping with everyday things may be the beneficial aspect of it. If someone can feel normal and continue living their life as usual, I don’t think there is anything wrong with having a belief in God.