You ask me if I believe God exists.
In response, I ask if you believe that numbers exist. You say yes, of course. I ask you to show me a number.
You scoff, put up two fingers, raise an eyebrow and say, "Two." I say that all you've shown me is your fingers. You haven't shown me "two".
You scoff again, then write the number on paper and say, "Two." I say you've only shown me a marking on a piece of paper. This marking isn't "two". How can two exist as your fingers one moment, then as a marking on paper the next.
You begin to get agitated and say that, obviously, two is an idea and isn't totally tangible. I ask what you mean by "not totally tangible".
You say that I can hold two apples. In a sense, I am touching two when holding two apples. You continue to explain that numbers exist and are real because we use them in mathematics. We apply them in real world applications ranging from commerce to flight to space exploration. You go even further to say that numbers are probably more real than our own existence. That even without a single human to complete even the most basic arithmetic, one plus one equalling two was always and forever will be true and real.
I agree with you for the most part. You ask me what this has to do with God.
I say that my question about numbers sets a certain foundation for my answer about God, in case you were asking me if I think God is a being that sits atop the world overlooking and judging all of humanity. That idea, while not without its usefulness and a degree of validity, should not be the summary of what God is in a serious conversation.
I say that God exists. The idea of God was a useful way to put the realization of our very complex existence into words and metaphors. While the existence of numbers doesn't validate the existence of God, it draws a parallel that is important to consider. As far as I can tell, God has been an integral part of human development; similar, to a certain extent, to the way numbers have spurred our development more recently.
Somewhere along our evolution, we discovered the future and the ability to abstract many possible outcomes from our actions. We tested those actions over and over again. Many perished and failed miserably. However, there were those that survived and were both lucky and competent enough to thrive. From those successes came lessons and further abstractions. Eventually, we discovered the many mysteries of existence as conscious beings and struggled to understand and explain it all to the coming generations. We did our best.
God is everything. It is all life and death, actions and consequences, hierarchy, time, and morality. All of these combined must be carefully contended with in order to lead a good life. However, even if one does everything right, life may still be punishing, and it may or may not be your fault. These ideas don't seem like much to most modern people, because many are anesthetized by comfort and complacency. To our ancestors, these ideas were massively impactful.
When we discovered the future, we slowly and painfully learned that certain actions reap certain consequences. Those consequences either molded or revealed a morality. I'm hesitant to say that we invented our own morality because it is more apparent that morality is something we discovered through trial and error. The evidence shows that we do not decide what morality is, per se. We discover parts of it, tamper with it, try it out amongst ourselves, tinker and modify some more, and always suffer the consequences of misuse. Much like certain elements in nature, or numbers, it exists and can be applied to our lives, with slightly differing outcomes depending on the variables.
Also much like the elements and numbers, which have arguably existed as long as the universe has, God too has existed in the form of hierarchies; or rather, that which chooses. What decides that certain elements form into planets? The laws of physics do not choose the way we choose things, but the hierarchies that exist within the laws are undeniable. Hierarchies determine what comes first, next, last, and what reaps certain outcomes. This isn't to say that all hierarchies are effective or right. However, from the formation of planets and solar systems to humanity, some things were of more significance than others in some certainty, and thus came into existence. And so, we exist.
It wasn't illogical to label this phenomenon as God, in my opinion. We can definitely do better at explaining it today. Religion must update itself to remain relevant, as God itself was updated over millennia. Dogma is never a good idea.
So if you ask me if I believe God exists, I will say yes, and the evidence is deeply woven into the fabric of our history and existence. We should contemplate what God was to our ancestors, and what God is to us, for years and years.
Numbers do not stop being true when we stop counting. God does not stop existing when we stop believing.