Where is the Harm in Not Believing in God’s Existence?

Where is the Harm in Not Believing in God’s Existence?

by Swami Sivananda

Belief in God is an indispensable requisite for every human being. It is a sine qua non. Owing to force of Avidya or ignorance pain appears as pleasure. The world is full of miseries, troubles, difficulties and tribulations. The world is a ball of fire. The Antahkarana charged with Raga, Dvesha, anger and jealousy is a blazing furnace. We have to free ourselves from birth, death, old age, disease and grief. This can only be done by faith in God. There is no other way. Money and power cannot give us real happiness. Even if we exercise suzerainty over the whole world, we cannot be free from care, worry, anxiety, fear, disappointment etc. It is only the faith in God and the consequent Godrealisation through meditation that can give us real, eternal happiness and free us from all kinds of fear and worries which torment us at every moment. Faith in God will force us to think of Him constantly and to meditate on Him and will eventually lead us on to Godrealisation.

Belief in God and Godrealisation will give us Parama Santi (supreme peace). In that peace comes the extinction of all pains. We will be no longer bewildered. We will be released from the bondage of actions. We will become immortal. We will obtain eternal Divine Wisdom. We will reach a place whence there is no return to this world of miseries, our sins being dispelled by Divine Wisdom. Our minds will ever remain balanced. We will never rejoice on obtaining what is pleasant nor feel sorry on obtaining what is unpleasant. We will have an icy cool Antahkarana. We will be ever established in the Divine Consciousness. We will get “Akshaya Sukha, ” happiness exempt from decay. We will become one with God (Samadhi) and get eternal (Nitya), infinite (Ananta), unbroken (Akhanda) Bliss. When we are established in the Divine Consciousness we will not be shaken even by heavy sorrow. We will get “Ateendriya Sukha”, happiness beyond the reach of senses (Supreme Bliss).

God will give us full security if we worship Him with unswerving devotion and undivided attention. He gives us the Yoga of discrimination to enable us to reach Him easily. Out of pure compassion for us He destroys the ignoranceborn darkness by the shining lamp of wisdom. He speedily lifts us from the ocean of Samsara if we fix our minds on Him steadily with devotion and faith. We will cross over the three qualities and, liberated from birth, death, old age, and sorrow, drink the nectar of immortality. By devotion and faith we will know Him in essence and will enter into His very Being. Through His Grace we will overcome all obstacles (Parama Pada-Parama Dhama).

Where is the Harm in Not Believing in God’s Existence? – Faith, Reason, and Spiritual Responsibility

Where is the Harm in Not Believing in God’s Existence? is a serious question that touches faith, morality, purpose, and the direction of human life. Some people think disbelief is harmless because a person can still live honestly, work hard, love family, and help society. From a spiritual point of view, however, the harm is not merely social or external. It lies in losing connection with the highest source of meaning, purity, humility, and inner guidance.

Belief in God does not mean blind emotion or fear-based religion. True faith means recognizing that life is not accidental, morality is not merely convenience, and the soul has a higher destiny. When a person accepts a divine reality, life becomes sacred. Actions are no longer done only for selfish gain, but with responsibility, reverence, and awareness of a higher law.

Where is the Harm in Not Believing in God’s Existence? can be understood by looking at the ego. Without faith in a higher power, the ego may easily become the centre of life. A person may begin to think, “My intelligence, my pleasure, my success, my opinion, and my comfort are supreme.” This attitude can slowly create pride, selfishness, and inner dryness.

Disbelief may not immediately make a person immoral, but it can weaken the spiritual foundation of restraint. If there is no higher witness, no divine law, and no sacred purpose, the mind may justify many compromises. Convenience may replace conscience. Pleasure may replace purity. Personal benefit may replace duty. Faith reminds the seeker that every thought, word, and action has deeper significance.

The harm is also seen in loss of surrender. Human life is full of uncertainty, suffering, illness, failure, separation, and death. Intellect alone cannot always give strength during deep pain. Faith gives the heart a place to rest. It teaches that one is not alone, that grace is possible, and that even suffering can become a means of awakening.

Where is the Harm in Not Believing in God’s Existence? also points to the problem of inner emptiness. A life based only on material success can become restless despite comfort. Wealth, name, pleasure, and achievement may satisfy the outer personality for some time, but they cannot fully answer the soul’s longing. The human heart seeks something permanent, loving, pure, and infinite.

Faith in God gives direction to morality. It inspires truthfulness, compassion, self-control, forgiveness, service, humility, and devotion. A believer may still make mistakes, but sincere faith gives the power to repent, correct, and rise again. Without a higher ideal, a person may depend only on personal moods, social approval, or changing opinions.

This does not mean that every non-believer is bad or every believer is good. That would be a shallow judgment. Many people who question God may still be honest, kind, and thoughtful. Many believers may also act wrongly if their faith is only outward. The real issue is not labels, but whether one is open to truth, humility, and moral transformation.

Where is the Harm in Not Believing in God’s Existence? becomes clearer when we examine the mind. The mind is restless, proud, doubtful, and easily attracted by pleasure. Faith gives the mind a higher centre. Prayer disciplines emotion. Worship softens pride. Remembrance of God purifies thought. Surrender reduces anxiety. These practices help the mind become calm and noble.

Disbelief can also close the door to devotion. Devotion is one of the sweetest powers in spiritual life. It turns ordinary action into worship, suffering into prayer, service into love, and daily life into a sacred journey. Without devotion, life may become too mental, dry, and self-dependent. The heart needs love for the Divine just as the mind needs knowledge.

Another harm is forgetfulness of the soul. If a person sees themselves only as body and mind, then life becomes limited to birth, pleasure, struggle, success, decay, and death. Spiritual wisdom teaches that the real self is deeper than body and thought. Belief in God helps the seeker remember this higher identity and live with dignity, purity, and courage.

Where is the Harm in Not Believing in God’s Existence? should not be answered with anger or condemnation. Faith cannot be forced. It must awaken through reflection, purity, prayer, good company, and sincere inquiry. A doubter should be guided with patience, not hatred. Honest questioning can become a doorway to deeper understanding when it is joined with humility.

The real danger is not honest doubt, but arrogant denial. Honest doubt says, “I do not yet understand; let me search.” Arrogant denial says, “There is nothing beyond what I think.” The first attitude can lead to wisdom. The second can block growth. A sincere seeker should remain open to the possibility that truth is greater than the limited mind.

In the end, Where is the Harm in Not Believing in God’s Existence? shows that the harm lies in losing the higher centre of life. Without faith, the ego may become stronger, morality may become weaker, suffering may feel meaningless, and the heart may miss the sweetness of devotion. Belief in God, when pure and sincere, brings humility, strength, peace, purpose, and progress toward spiritual freedom.

Mind Conquest by Overcoming Raga-dvesha