I agree that living out your values matters, but the God question isn’t just abstract philosophy. If God exists, then He’s the source of those values, and there are real moral obligations that flow from that.
If He doesn’t, then morality is just preference, and there’s no ultimate accountability. So the God question actually determines which belief systems are true and worth perpetuating, and whether our actions have eternal significance or just temporary impact.
If God exists, and is the source of all absolute values, I think its more effective for the masses to have a path to intrinsically understand said values rather than a top down imposition of them. Participating in systems that perpetuate these beliefs and values ultimately is how others will continue to believe, and ultimately staying aligned with my values.
The idea that we can just “intrinsically” understand absolute values is wishful thinking imo. Left to ourselves, we rationalize whatever we want. That is why civilization depends on those values being taught, defended, and in some sense imposed through law, culture, and tradition. If you do not transmit them from the top down as well as the bottom up, they will disappear within a generation.
I mean, you can still have leaders that cultivate the beliefs in others. Perpetuating without understanding is self terminating when faced with a belief system that resonates.
