Does God Exists or Not
If you are confused if God exists or not, as I was, then this article is for you. In this article, we will see the concept of God critically and try to be clear in smokes and mirrors. According to a survey, 51% of people believe in the Divine entity and Hereafter; 18% are not sure, and 17% do not believe in God. The Numbers of agnostics is increasing. Even the people who formally believe in God conceal their inner conflict.
When we need truth, we apply different sources of knowledge. In this article, the same sources of knowledge are used to conclude Does God Exist or not. These Sources of knowledge can be briefed in this way,
1. Intuitions and instincts,
2. Continuity of knowledge,
3. Intellectual requirement,
4. The witness of people,
5. Experimental evidence,
Sometimes a single source is enough, but often we have to use all these sources to reach a point. When the question of God comes, we have a strange attitude. We have accepted it ‘as it is’ uncritically. Many religious minds insist that God’s existence should be unquestionable. On the other hand, atheists persist with the negation of God without solid arguments. It is a very unscientific and Unquranic approach. The Quran insists on believing in the Creator without seeing, not without logicizing. It has a very sensible approach and urges people to believe in the rightest opinion. It says in Chapter 28(Al Qasas), verse 49. Tell them (O Prophet) “Then do bring a Book from Allah which is a better guide than either of them (Quran and Tora), and I will follow it! Do so if you are truthful!”
1. Intuitions and Instincts:
Instincts are the natural inclination of people to a particular behavior. Whereas Intuitions or gut feelings are the capacities of the mind to realize something without proof and reasoning. According to Professor Gene Robinson and Andrew, instincts were the behavior of ancestors that got into the DNA of descendants. Though the origin of both is vague, we can feel them in our daily life.
Intuition and the Idea of Creator
When a child is born, and he is told that these two people are his parents. He generally accepts the idea. But If he is told that he has been born without parents, this will confuse him. How is it? Some evidence suggests that fetal memory begins in the second trimester of conception. This suggests that the child was aware of his birth process. But the memory became part of the subconscious. Which cannot be remembered but is strong enough to steer the child’s behavior to believe in parentness. This hypothesis shows that the memories that have become part of instinct and intuition are also a source of knowledge. Likewise, if a person is introduced to a Creator, he generally welcomes the idea. The Quran narrates to us a relevant event that happened before we came to this World. It says in Chapter 7 (Al-Aaraf) verse 172. And recall (O Prophet) when your Lord brought forth descendants from the loins of the sons of Adam. And made them witnesses against their ownselves. Asking them: ‘Am I not your Lord?’ They said: ‘Yes, we do testify.’ we did so lest you claim on the Day of Resurrection: ‘we were unaware of this.’
We can suppose that this event got into the DNA of our forefathers and has become part of our subconscious memory. Now, this memory can’t be remembered but influence our behavior towards God. As the idea of the Creator is complementary to our intuition and instinct, whenever we listen to it, we accept it. We have to debate telling a child that he has been born without parents. In the same way, we have to debate to disprove the existence of the Creator. By default: God is supposed to be present.
2. The continuity of knowledge and the idea of the Creator
Continuity of knowledge:
The continuity of knowledge is the transfer of knowledge from generation to generation. Continuous narrations about a particular entity are the proof of its existence. If someone claims the person named Alexander never existed. His claim will not be acceptable, as the continuity of knowledge proves his existence.
Continuity of knowledge and concept of supreme Power:
Nobody knows the genesis of the idea of the Creator in human history. No one can mention a date. The concept prevailed in all civilizations irrespectively; Whether it was a polytheistic or monotheistic approach. There is not a single civilization (even the oldest) without the idea of a Creator. How did it come? Many theories are present. Some claim it was the result of fear; others say the curious nature of man inferred it. Whatever the course was, but one thing is clear: the idea of Creator has an extraordinary continuity. The continuity, that has never been gained by any other concept in human history.
How did this come? The Quran gives an explanation that is likely to be true. It states that when the first man (Adam) and woman (Eve) were created, they could see and talk to the Creator directly. It was not blind faith; rather, they could see angels and Satan. When they came to the earth, they transferred God’s concept to their generations. In this way, the idea of the Creator is rooted in the human mind. This concept is the common inheritance of knowledge of all humanity.
3. Intellectual requirement:
An intellectual sees a phenomenon and then tries to find its invisible mechanisms. The mechanism is applied to explain the particular phenomenon and related phenomena. If it works and gives satisfactory results, it becomes law. Newton saw an apple coming down. He inferred to a force of the earth, pulling down everything. This hypothesis was very satisfactory and was capable to explain the complexity of the Universe, so it was accepted as law.
Does God really an Intellectual Requirement?
The intelligent design of the Universe has always been a matter of debate. How can matter perfectly change its shape into such diverse things? How does material work in an impeccable arrangement? Why does each change is measured and directed and follows mathematical laws? Our capabilities are far behind to catch the exact mechanism of these changes. In this complex system, if the presence of one object is challenged, the existence of related things becomes doubtful.
So, a perfect chain of events and objects is present where no bead is useless. Without energy and will, how can matter change its shape in an order? Even if we assume it has energy intrinsically. Still, the question of comprehensive changes remains unanswered. Because the matter has no willpower. The Quran raises the same question after explaining the order of the Universe in chapter 52, At-Tur, verses 35. “Did they come into being without any creator? Or were they their own creators?” And then in the very next verse: “Or is it they who created the heavens and the earth? No; the truth is that they lack a sure faith.” The only justification that can be applied negating the concept of Creator is: the whole progress of the matter is only accidental. But this will be the most illogical answer to the question. The concept of Creator is the only reasonable answer to the question of the Quran. If we believe in God, then things become logical and clear. In chapter 24 (Al Noor) verse 35. “Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth: His light (in the universe) may be likened (to the light of) a lamp in a niche. The lamp is in a glass shade. The glass shade is like a glittering star and the lamp is lit with the olive oil of a blessed tree which is neither eastern nor western. Its oil is (so fine) as if it were going to shine forth by itself though no fire touched it (as though all the means of increasing) light upon light (were provided). Allah guides to His light whomever He wills. He cites parables to make the Message clear to the people; He has perfect knowledge of everything”. The next question that arises in our mind is, if God created the Universe, then who created God? The simple answer to this question is that: people see the universe, observe its intelligent design, and infer the concept of Creator. As we cannot see God and do not know how He looks? So this question is not valid. In Hereafter, people will see God; this will be the time to discover whether He is a creature or the Creator.
4. The witness of The number of People:
We see in history narrations of people about the events who witness the event. The number and trustworthiness of narrators determine the truthfulness of the event. We can apply the same method to authenticate God.
The Witness of People Idea of Creator
In history, the first pair of human beings (Adam and Eve) had direct contact with God. Over time, the concept of God faded; (You may take it as a shirk.). Then some people in the human population were chosen to go through a similar experience. These chosen people had all aspects of excellence. They were trustworthy, just, and lovable. According to Hadith, they were 124000 in number. So God’s concept is well established as a historical fact. It is the concept to which our intuition and instinct guide, is our intellectual need, and the greatest people witnesses it.
5. Experimental evidence:
Experimental evidence includes elaboration made under a controlled environment. Rather than through empirical research methods. It is the ultimate stage to check the hypothesis. Scientists take any hypothesis that passes this stage as fact.
How God Provides Us Experimental Evidences for His Existence
When all the above pieces of evidence are presented to people, they are divided into two categories. Some people who have a positive tendency towards dialogue accept the idea. But others negate it. They say it is your intuition that accepts, not ours. It is your intellectual requirement, not ours. Such people argue that this Universe is dictated by the laws of nature, and no one can break these regulations. These rules are the ultimate authority of the Universe. It is mentioned in various scriptures that God broke those laws. People who didn’t accept the idea of Hereafter, the concept of punishment and reward, were given an ultimatum of mighty punishment. The methods of punishment were unnatural. The first punishment was in the time of Noah(PBUH) to unbelievers in the form of a flood. And the last was in the time of Muhammad(PBUH) when the pagans were punished by believers. We cannot say these were accidents because in these cases believers were separated and only pagans were punished. Accidents do not make such differences. So before the day of resurrection, God provided experimental evidence of his existence
Conclusion
In short, our intuition witnesses that the idea of God is not strange; rather, it is acceptable and satisfying. The continuity of knowledge of different civilizations on the concept of God shows his presence. We can study the Universe; its orderliness suggests that it cannot create itself. So there must be a Creator. A series of Messengers, the greatest of humans, also witnesses the same idea. We have applied all sources of knowledge to check God. All sources favor the presence of God, so it is satisfying to believe in God rather than stay in uncertainty.
I hope this was a good answer to, does God exist?
