Going Up? Floor 22 - Elon Musk, Cultural Christian
The Well-Known Entrepreneur Enters the Elevator with Christian
“Going Up?” is a light-hearted yet thought-provoking fictional series that explores encounters between a Christian (named Christian, sometimes Chris) and individuals with non-Christian worldviews. Set in an imaginary elevator, these brief but meaningful conversations dive into the “what” and “why” of each perspective, blending humor and seriousness to engage readers in exploring profound questions of faith, ethics, and purpose.
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Background
Christian, a young, enthusiastic man in this series, is a traditional, orthodox Christian. He believes in God's goodness and the Good News of Jesus Christ. He believes Scripture is authoritative, even if he doesn’t think it is always a literal recording of actual events. He believes in the historic Creeds of the Church.
Chris has often heard politicians say that two things can be true simultaneously. He believes it and applies that same principle to his faith, where such a thing is called a mystery.
For example, Chris believes simultaneously in the full divinity of Jesus and in His full humanity. Two things are true at once. He believes in God’s providential will for his life and also believes in his complete freedom to exercise his own will. Two things are true at once.
Chris has met a few cultural Christians before. He has read the reflections of intellectual elites who admire Christianity’s moral framework but stop short of belief. He understands their reasoning, even respects it—but he remains ambivalent.
To him, cultural Christians are like vegetarians savoring the broth of a rich beef stew. They may not eat the meat, but they can’t deny the depth and nourishment it provides. It’s a start, he concedes.
But faith is not just about appreciating the flavor but embracing the substance. Deep down, Chris believes that one day, every broth-sipper will take a bite and discover the feast they’ve been missing.
Let’s look at the key beliefs of a cultural Christian and then get into the elevator with Chris and the (sometimes) wealthiest man in the world, Elon Musk.
Key Beliefs and Worldview of a Cultural Christian
Christianity as a Civilizational Foundation— Christianity is a cornerstone of Western civilization, responsible for shaping laws, human rights, and ethical conduct. The decline of Christianity coincides with the cultural and demographic decline in society.
Ethics Over Theology – Values Christian teachings like love, kindness, and forgiveness but does not necessarily subscribe to its supernatural elements. Christian ethics are bits of practical wisdom that enhance civilization.
Christianity as a Stabilizer for Society – Christianity is a force for order, helping societies function smoothly. Nations without strong belief systems tend to decline, and many believe the loss of faith is tied to low birth rates and societal fragmentation.
Open but Skeptical About the Supernatural – Does not explicitly reject God but remains agnostic. Prefer scientific discovery and rational inquiry over theological assertions.
Faith as a Curiosity – Religion as an intellectual curiosity, engaging with theological ideas but refraining from personal commitment. Beliefs are mental models that help frame human experience.
The Role of Christianity in His Public Engagement – Support free speech and open dialogue, allowing religious perspectives a place in the conversation.
Innovation and First Principles Thinking in Faith – Applies scientific methods of thinking to religious concepts, breaking them down and reconstructing them.
The Future of Humanity and Faith – Musk (in particular) believes in expanding civilization beyond Earth and has speculated that if God exists, He would want humanity to explore the universe.
The Scene
An Elevator in a High-Rise Building
The elevator doors slide open—Christian, sometimes called Chris, steps in, coffee in hand, pressing the button for the 22nd floor. Just as the doors begin to close, a blur of movement—a tangle of three smartphones, a stainless steel water bottle, and a restless figure in a T-shirt and a Cobalt blue cotton blazer—slips through at the last second.
It is Elon Musk. Surprise! He is speeding off to a new venture. He is on his way to start a new company called DogeX, which will establish Dogecoin as the standard currency for Mars.
His T-shirt reads: “Occupy Mars.”
He juggles his phones, one perched on his shoulder, another in his left hand, while his right thumb fires off a rapid tweet. He fidgets, bouncing on the balls of his feet as if the elevator’s speed (slow) is personally offensive to him.
The Dialogue
Christian (grinning): “Whoa! Are you Elon Musk? This is my lucky day."
Elon (glancing over, smirking): "Depends on how you define luck. I like to think about probabilities, not divine intervention."
Christian: "Yeah, but sometimes probabilities break in impossible ways? Like the universe itself, Elon. I could ask, “Why me?” or “Why you?” but I could ask a much bigger question, like, “Why Anything? Why is there anything at all?”
Elon (still typing but intrigued): "Fair. The Anthropic Principle1 suggests that we exist because the conditions allow it. The deeper question is: why those conditions? But I assume you’re about to tell me your answer."
Christian: “I’d love to, but first, can I ask you a question? I hear you call yourself a ‘cultural Christian.’ Congratulations…I think. What does that mean to you?”
Elon: (finally pocketing one phone, but still holding two) “It means I think Christianity has utility—lots of it. Societies with strong moral frameworks function better. Love, kindness, forgiveness—those things are good for civilization. Christian societies work well.
They are cheaper too. The government doesn’t have to spend much on police. People are raised in families and taught to be good, don’t steal, love thy neighbor, you know, that stuff.
But believing in the supernatural? That’s a different thing.”
Christian: “So, you believe in Christianity and in Jesus, but not in him as the Son of God.”
Elon: (smirking) “That’s about it. I actually think the teachings of Jesus are good and wise—turning the other cheek, loving your neighbor, and all that. Those things lead to greater happiness, not just for us but for all future humans. But faith? I don’t know. It never quite clicked for me.”
Winston Churchill is someone I think about who is like me. He said he was not a pillar of the church, but he was a buttress. Outside the church to be a support. That’s me. That’s why Trump and I get along so well.
He sees what I see Christians: not just votes but value.
Christian: "Look, you’re a first-principles guy. Break things down, find the core truth, rebuild from there. So let me ask—what’s your first principle when it comes to meaning? Here’s the question, and it’s big: What’s the foundation everything else rests on?"
Elon (pausing, considering): "Easy answer. For me, anyway. Expansion of consciousness. Asking better questions. Taking humanity beyond Earth."
Christian: “That’s a huge idea and a big vision. But why? Why expand? Why go beyond Earth?
Elon: Because it gives people a sense of hope and future, people who have a future and feel good about the future build better things and have bigger families. The future gives us a meaning.
Christian: Wow, I’m all about meaning.
Elon: “You know what’s interesting? When societies lose their core beliefs and have no faith in the future, birth rates crash. People stop seeing a point to the future. That’s measurable data telling us something about meaning.”
Christian: “You know what that tells me? It tells me that people lose their way when they lose their why.”
Elon: (nods) “Exactly. I mean, look at what’s happening. People like Paul Ehrlich convinced a whole generation that having children was irresponsible, that we were all doomed because of overpopulation. He was dead wrong. But the damage is done. People stopped believing in the future, and now the birth rates are collapsing. That’s a civilization-ending problem.”
Christian: “So, you’re saying faith—or at least a belief in something bigger than yourself—is what gives people the motivation to keep building the future?”
Elon: “Yeah. And Christianity has been one of the strongest forces keeping that alive.”
Hey, that's a nice slogan, by the way. “Lose their way; lose their why”. I like it. I’m going to monetize it on some T-shirts. I’ll cut you in, man. Wow! (He does a fist bump and a little bounce in his step at the same time…)
Christian: “Have you ever seriously considered Christianity for yourself?”
Elon: (pauses, briefly glancing up before resuming typing) “Yeah. I was baptized Anglican, went to Sunday school as a kid. But around twelve or thirteen, I started reading a lot—philosophy, world religions, physics. I had this…crisis of meaning. None of it quite fit. None of them had answers that resonated.”
Christian: “So what did?”
Elon: (grinning) “A book called The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.”
Christian: “…Seriously?”
Elon: “Hey, don’t knock it! It’s got a great lesson—the answer isn’t the point. The real value is in asking better questions. If I had a religion, it would probably be something like the ‘religion of curiosity’—the drive for greater understanding, expanding human consciousness. That’s what fuels everything I do.”
Christian: “Elon, we are about to get off the elevator. But have to ask you about Jesus as Lord of all…”
Elon (raising an eyebrow): "Are you suggesting Christianity isn’t just a useful system but true?"
Christian: “Exactly. You’ve said that civilizations decline when they lose their sense of purpose, their faith. But Christianity isn’t just effective, it’s true. It works because it’s right.”
Elon: “Great point.”
The elevator dings. An exotic female voice announces, “22nd floor.” The doors slide open. Elon shifts his phones, hesitates for half a second, then steps out. He turns back. He bounces a bit more in his shoes.
Elon: “You ask good questions.”
Christian: “So do you. Maybe the next frontier isn’t just Mars or AI—maybe it’s faith.”
Elon meets his eyes, considering the words. For the first time in their conversation, he is still. Then, without a word, he clenches his fist and thumps it against his chest—over his heart—before extending his hand up and outward, a silent acknowledgment of respect. A gesture that says, I hear you. Then, with a slight nod, he turns and walks away.”
The doors close.
Please leave a comment in the comment section below.
Conclusion: Faith Beyond Utility
Faith cannot be reduced to mere utility. Yes, Christianity has shaped civilizations, upheld moral order, and provided a framework for meaning—but that is not why I believe. Faith is not true because it works; sometimes, in the world’s eyes, Christianity doesn’t work. It disrupts. It challenges. It upends everything we think we know. We do not believe simply because faith is useful; we believe because it is true.
That’s why I don’t mind when people first approach Christianity as cultural observers. In fact, I understand it. Many of us encounter faith this way—before we fully grasp its reality, we see its beauty, test its principles, and step into its rhythms. And then, at some point, we are confronted with something deeper: the realization that Christianity is not just an elegant system of ethics, nor merely an effective way to structure society. It is an encounter with truth itself.
So, I welcome those who admire Christianity from a distance, who see its moral architecture and appreciate its harmony before they recognize its source. Some hear the music before they meet the Conductor. But in time, if they listen closely, they may come to realize that the song is not just beautiful—it is calling them.
The Anglican is the LeaderWorks Substack newsletter, where I share insights, encouragement, and practical tools for clergy and lay Christians. I’m also the author of over a dozen books available on Amazon.
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Articles and Information about Elon Musk
https://breakpoint.org/hope-for-elon-musk-and-other-cultural-christians/
https://www.spacex.com/mission/
https://unherd.com/newsroom/elon-musk-im-a-cultural-christian/
https://www.wsj.com/tech/elon-musk-religion-christianity-4545dd8b
The anthropic principle is based on the idea that life couldn't exist if the values of nature's constants were slightly different.