Existence of God: Wish fulfillment?

I managed to set my VCR for the PBS show, Existence of God and watched about 1/2 of it tonight.

Very thought provoking.

The format of the show is to follow the life of Freud (who was an atheist) and Lewis (who was an atheist who became a Christian). After an episode in the life of Freud and Lewis is shown in drama/documentry fashion, a round table of people talk about the issue at hand.

One commonly held view is that God is really created in our image: we have this childish wish for a God.

Interestingly, one panelist said, well, does wishing for something tell you anything at all about the reality or non-reality of the thing wished for?

And then there was this comment, what if there really is a God and God put that wish and desire within us?

Very thought provoking.

How about it readers?

As a theist who believes in Christ, I find this discussion right on target.

We all have a God shaped place in our life.

We try to fill it with all sorts of stuff but there is this longing for something more than "stuff."

Hence, Jesus uses parables to explain things. One notable one is "the living water." Jesus talks to the outcast Samaritan Woman at the well and tells her she is really looking for living water i.e. God.

The atheists dismisses a desire for god as a childhood wish.

But what if we desire god much like we need water?

Our wishing for it can be evidence for its reality?