Hi /r/atheism. First post here. Would like to run some thoughts by you. Not an atheist myself. [self]

author: lmfaopizza (25 days) | author karma: 102/1003 | original story's comments | [flag](http://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%23atheismbot&subject=flag&message=Please describe why you're flagging this submission - http://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/comments/nulgv/hi_ratheism_first_post_here_would_like_to_run/)

So I myself am not atheist; I don't generally brand myself any specific label but I suppose the most suitable is deist/skeptic. Just to give you background.

I'm not trying to preach, nor am I trying to be preached to. I am posting here because of my impression of skepticism in the atheist community, which by itself may well be a healthy quality.

The present thoughts diverged from a train of thought regarding behavior: it's governed by rules, some conscious some unconscious, and that is influenced by conscious decision-making. The specific rules I was considering aside, the thought I'd wanted to run by you is this:

Supposing one were to make their "prime directive," the rule to rule all rules in "life," the belief in a non-specific single god, with no other propositions attached, do you, philosophers of reddit, believe that this in itself would cause bad consequences?

To elaborate: this is the central tenet of most monotheistic religions. If one was to cast aside the following tenets, generally more specific than this primary one, what implications follow?

My present interest is that at worst it is just a hollow statement, especially for "devout," if it could be called that, atheists (it would be tantamount to saying "Yeah, the world exists. So what." ?). But at best, it may have further implications. Such as that barring all other observable circumstances, it acts as a failsafe/safe harbor/paradigm/emergency state of mind. This is besides my belief that living God does exist. My present interest is not in dogmas or mythology, but in your thoughts on the neurological/cognitive/psychological ramifications of the conviction that there is God, without further accoutrements of a specific religion.

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