Two typical lines I hear from soldiers are, “Chaplain, I’m not religious,” and, “Don’t worry, Chaplain, I believe in God.” Both of these bring on important conversations.

The first claim is simply not true. We all have an explanation for why the world is the way it is and how we’re to live as a result. We all worship at the altar of some deity, even if it’s ourselves. We are all “religious.”

But the second claim is just as concerning. When soldiers tell me they “believe in God,” I start peppering them with questions. Who is this God? What is He like? How do you know Him? Usually, they have no answers. A spiritual-but-not-religious attitude is just as bad as the pretend atheism. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

Are you rooted in a worldview consisting of clichés and cop-outs? Not only are both systems false, hollow, and meaningless, but they also prevent you from wrestling with the deepest questions before a very real God. You are left with, at best, an ill-defined God. And that leaves you with an ill-defined hope.