Those who have read Larry Beinhart's novels are unsurprised to discover his extreme erudition and the deep thought and care he applies to all of his work. Take, for example, 1993'sAmerican Hero, the book that would become the film Wag the Dog. The film - and the book - resonated with so many readers and viewers because we recognized the reality of the ridiculous situation Beinhart created in his story. In his own words, "war as a performance for home viewership." What could be more silly, right? Yet, as told by this author, what ever felt more chillingly real?

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 WHY WE BELIEVE IN GOD

 Our working hypothesis is that God doesn’t exist.

 There are other false beliefs for which the evidence is stronger and more easily seen, that people have readily given up.

 Such beliefs include: the earth is standing still (it certainly looks like it), that the sun rises and sets (you see it every day), the earth is solid (it has a hard crust over a molten center), that the earth is flat and you can fall of the edge, that matter is solid (atoms are mostly empty space), that something can’t be both a wave and a particle (electrons are apparently both), that all the species were created separately and simultaneously (give or take a day).

So a theory about belief in God – as a false belief - has to account for its strength and tenacity when compared to false beliefs that have fallen.

It also has to deal with The Atheist’s Dilemma.

BELIEF

When we hear or use the words “belief” and “believe,” we tend to jump to the top of the chain of complexity. The home of grand cathedrals, ornate mosques, colorful rituals and long, sacred texts.
However, belief, as a psychological mechanism, is much simpler.

We need to make decisions in order to act.
We seek information in order to do so. Food/not food. Safe/dangerous. Easy/hard. Friend/foe. Pretty drapes that go with our color scheme/ugly ones that don’t.
We never know 100% about anything. There’s always an information gap between ourselves and certainty.

There are three basic positions from which to view God.

Belief
Agnosticism
Atheisism

Each position forces certain questions and does not permit others. BELIEF: If we start with belief, this the big question Why won’t God make himself clear?

I’m a writer. If I had divine powers, believe me, I would get it right the first time and never need a rewrite.

So why is there an Old Testament and then a New? Why is there the Koran, the Book of Mormon, the Vedas, Guru Granth Sahib, Zhuan Falun, the Avesta, the Tattvartha Sutra?