Chapter 1: The Quest for Answers

Do you hold beliefs in an afterlife, reincarnation, telepathy, or astrology? What about the existence of a deity or the power of love? Where does the line of belief end, and why do we subscribe to these ideas? Fundamentally, two reasons underpin our beliefs: (1) our intrinsic curiosity drives us to seek answers; (2) when our inquiries fall short, we resort to the MSU method (Make Stuff Up). To maintain this facade, we label these constructs as "observations," "theories," or other euphemisms.

Growing up in America, my twin brother Bill and I were no strangers to childhood myths like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. We eventually outgrew these notions, yet we continued to attend church and revere Jesus, whom many consider the son of a divine being responsible for the natural world's marvels.

In essence, we transitioned from one form of magical thinking to another. While this phenomenon is common, my experience differed from my brother’s. Bill believed in God much like most people do, viewing Him as the architect of the universe's intricate wonders, convinced that such perfection could not be mere coincidence.

However, the absence of concrete proof for God's existence means that those who assert they "know God" are speaking from personal experience. In this sense, God is a construct, a human creation. Our species often envisions this entity resembling us and assumes He fathered a son that we should worship, referred to as His Son. Despite the claim of virginity surrounding Jesus's mother, Mary, she lived with Joseph for much of her life, which complicates the narrative.

Believing in the Easter Bunny is child's play, while clinging to the myth of Mary's virginity is an adult's version of magical thinking. I struggle to see a distinction.

After retiring, my brother Bill was one of the few individuals I could discuss profound existential questions with. Tragically, when he passed away five years ago, a piece of me vanished alongside him. He was my confidant and debate partner, and our discussions never descended into petty arguments, which was both extraordinary and wonderful.

Although neither of us accepted the myth of Mary's virginity or the notion of Jesus as the Son of God, Bill did believe that nature’s perfection required divine assistance. This led him to embrace the idea of a "puppet master" in the sky—a very human response to the complexities of existence.

When faced with mysteries beyond comprehension, we often resort to the notion of God as a convenient escape. By attributing our lack of understanding to divine will, we absolve ourselves of the responsibility to delve deeper into the phenomena around us. This has been a successful strategy for millennia, providing comfort to millions.

The typical justification for the existence of God is to explain the perfection we observe in nature. However, I’ve argued that introducing a creator complicates what is otherwise a straightforward reality. I believe the universe operates independently and requires no divine intervention. My understanding of nature doesn’t equate to knowledge; rather, I embrace an open-minded wonder about the cosmos, allowing its beauty to reveal itself without needing justification.

The True Believer poses the question: “How can nature be so perfect on its own?” To which I reply, “Why wouldn’t it be?”

Chapter 2: The Patterns of Nature

The natural world is filled with Fibonacci sequences, orderly chaos, and predictable randomness. Beauty transcends subjective perception; it simply exists.

Renaissance artists recognized this through principles like the golden ratio, which resonates with our innate sense of beauty. The same principle applies to music, where certain arrangements evoke harmony. Animals, too, respond to music; cows and elephants enjoy rhythmic melodies, while my dog joins in when I play the piano or sing.

Research indicates that the animal kingdom is wired to find particular physical traits attractive, notably facial symmetry. The appeal of classic figures, like Errol Flynn, can be traced back to these mathematical principles.

The more we learn, the less we rely on magic to fill our knowledge gaps. Witnessing a child's joy upon making a discovery embodies the true magic of learning—an experience that stirs genuine emotion and enriches our understanding of the world.

The first video, "Are You A Believer?" prompts viewers to reflect on their own belief systems and the implications of faith in everyday life.

The second video, "Imagine Dragons - Believer," captures the spirit of resilience and the journey of self-discovery through the lens of belief.