I can’t count how many times I’ve heard somebody quip with respect to God: “I have no need of that hypothesis.” (The most recent occasion was about an hour ago, courtesy of Ray Ingles.)
The thing about this statement is that people seem to think it has some sort of gravitas about it, some sort of force.
For that reason I’d like to take just a moment to put it in some perspective.
I’m about to go motorcycling with Bob.
Bob gets on his Harley and fires it up. But he’s not wearing a helmet.
“Hey Bob,” I say. “Why don’t you put on this helmet. It’s DOT approved.”
Bob shoots me a withering glance. “I have no need of that helmet” he huffs.
I shrug. “Okay Bob.”
Does Bob’s self-perception that he has no need of the helmet affect my self-perception that I do?
Well try this. Take a cantaloupe. Grab a black felt marker and draw a happy face on it. Then walk to the side of the road and hurl the melon into the road as hard as you can.
And then strap on your helmet.
