Would Religion Exist if We Burned All the Books?
On a recent episode of The Wandering Home Podcast, we had the privilege of interviewing Derek Webb. During our conversation, Derek brought up a fascinating quote from Ricky Gervais that sparked some deep reflection. Here’s the quote:
“Science is constantly proved all the time. You see, if we take something like any fiction, any holy book… and destroyed it, in a thousand years’ time, that wouldn’t come back just as it was. Whereas if we took every science book, and every fact, and destroyed them all, in a thousand years they’d all be back, because all the same tests would [produce] the same result.”
Gervais uses this argument to highlight the perceived uncertainty of religious beliefs compared to the certainty of scientific evidence. At first glance, it’s a compelling statement, but upon closer examination, it’s not as airtight as it seems.
Historical Narratives vs. Scientific Facts
The Bible—and other religious texts—aren’t simply rulebooks or collections of fictitious tales. Much of the Bible is a historical narrative, detailing the lives of real people like King David, Solomon, and Jesus of Nazareth. If all ancient texts documenting their existence were destroyed, we would lose a significant record of their stories. However, other evidence—archaeological finds, cultural traditions, and unrelated historical writings—would still point to their existence and influence.
To destroy the Bible would be akin to erasing any other historical evidence of a people group or individual. It would obscure the story but not eliminate all traces. This is where Gervais’s argument falters. Religious texts and scientific texts serve different purposes and rely on different types of evidence.
The data Gervais refers to—scientific observations like photosynthesis or gravity—would indeed resurface because they’re based on observable, repeatable phenomena. But hypotheses about historical events, even within the scientific community, don’t always carry the same certainty. If all records of certain historical hypotheses were lost, they might not resurface in the same way.
Religion and the Human Condition
Let’s take this hypothetical scenario further: If all religious books were destroyed, would religion itself vanish? The clear answer is no.
According to research summarized by Yale’s Human Relations Area Files, “Although all known societies have religious beliefs and practices, religions vary greatly from society to society.” Did you catch that? All known societies have religious beliefs.
This tells us something profound about human nature: religion is not something imposed from the outside. It emerges naturally when humans form communities, right alongside food, shelter, and clothing. Why? Because religion addresses the universal questions that define the human experience:
• Why do I exist?
• Why do we all share a sense of morality?
• Why do I feel guilt?
• How can I atone for wrongdoing?
• Why do I seek justice?
• What is love, mercy, or forgiveness?
These questions are woven into the fabric of who we are. If every religious book were burned, the questions wouldn’t disappear. Humanity would continue to seek answers, and through God’s grace, those answers would eventually emerge again.
The Enduring Search
Religion isn’t just about sacred texts; it’s about the longing for meaning and connection with something greater than ourselves. If all the books were gone, we’d still have that longing, and we’d still ask those questions.
Perhaps the resilience of religion lies in this truth: faith is not just written on pages. It’s written in our hearts.
