How Do We Know God Exists?

[SpiritualMasterSlave]

“Have faith” and “keep the faith,” along with other adages, are phrases we use daily. We reference faith to help keep us confident and send out some positive energy – either by having faith in a higher deity, having faith in ourselves, or having faith in others.

Faith in the context of religion is very defining for a person. It places the person in a belief system that develops into a way of life and provides its own unique system of logic to explain the phenomena of life around us. Faith in God enables humans to be thankful for the blessings they enjoy, and to be patient in times of difficulty, for they believe that nothing can happen without His will. Faith in the Divine Being also prompts people to be more in tune with their souls and to maintain a constant connection through prayer, supplication, and reflection. Ultimately, faith enables them to develop a deeper vision, one which goes beyond the sight of their eyes and the signals of their minds.

Even on a very fundamental level we find that throughout history there is a very strange phenomenon that people of different backgrounds, living in so many different parts of the world at different points in time, have always had this strong urge within themselves to look and to yearn for the Creator. They see that there is some power, a magnificent and merciful power that is sometimes interpreted in a mistaken way by materializing that in some form or other (i.e. idols). The basic yearning has always been there. Even in places where there is no recorded history of a particular prophet, people have yearned for a Creator. That’s what I’m referring to as an innate nature. The Arabic term is ‘fitra.’ Fitra literally translates to: something that one is created with or created in accordance with: this innate nature.

Is the intellect an enemy to faith?

All human faculties such as the senses including also the intellect are part and parcel of the whole process of seeking the truth. None of these by themselves will be sufficient, but on a whole they are not really in contradiction. In fact I would say, even more positively, that from a Muslim point of view one of the main things that make the human being distinct, one of the basic blessings that he is given by God to make him different from animals since animals can think as well, is intellect. So the intellect is a God given gift or blessing.

How could we interpret that as a challenge or antithesis of faith? This doesn’t really stand.

On the personal or individual level, one doesn't have to venture far to realize that God does exist. Just look into yourself, you don’t have to be a scientist but if you are then you’ll appreciate more the construction of the body; how it is made up of many cells. One cell becomes a cell for sight and the other for hearing; it’s amazing. How does the brain operate?

The circulatory system? The digestive system? The nervous system? Such coordination and beauty [is shown through their functioning]. This shows that these things didn't come to be in a haphazard way, there must have been a deliberate design behind them. So if you want to find God then look into yourself. The Quran says, “By looking into yourselves, you will find evidence to the presence and powers of God.”

In another verse it even says, “Do they not reflect in their own minds?” (30:8) In fact, if one really divorces himself from any prejudice caused by societal pressures one way or the other, or the worship of science as the ultimate thing, if one utilizes science in the proper way, you wouldn't have to look at the body as a whole, just start analyzing one single organ and see how it works.

Like some scientists would tell you that in order to duplicate the digestive system you’d need a huge laboratory and still it wouldn't operate as efficiently as a naturally created organ would such as the stomach. We have acids in our stomachs that can erode metal but it doesn't hurt us. How could that be haphazard? If one aspect of that was developed by chance would everything else falling in line and falling together also happen by chance? (Learn more Quran and Science)

The Environment and Cosmic Order.

Let’s move on to beyond ourselves, to find further evidence, the Quran also implores people to consider and to think. Take one aspect that many people think about today as very fashionable, like the ecological balance for example. Many people would take that as very clear evidence again that there is a design in this universe; vegetation as it relates to animal life and to human life; and the various atmospheric layers that we have.

Everything is put together to sustain human life. If you look into the Quran, you find this mentioned. In one verse, in the Quran, it says, “God created everything in exact proportion.” (16:25) This is a very important term “in exact proportion” it’s not just that He created but that there is a deliberate design behind putting all of these things together.

In another verse, when people look at the whole scheme of creation, it says, “Were they created from nothing or are they themselves the creators?” No one claims that he’s created from nothing nor can he claim that he is the creator [of the heavens and earth].

Then the verse continues, “Or did they create the heavens and earth?” No one claims that. Then it says, “Nay but they see not.” (52: 35-36) So the science is there. It’s whether we apply it in the right place and in the proper way or not that makes the difference.

Finally, if you move into what I would call the third circle, not just looking into ourselves or the environment around us but looking into the whole cosmic order, again there is a design. The planets. The solar system. The way everything is coordinated. The distance between the sun and the earth, which if decreased may burn everything and if decreased everything would freeze.

This is all deliberate. The succession of day and night, the circulation or changes of seasons, which has very important relevance to the lives of the people, to vegetation, and to animal life; all of these beautiful things that we are in awe at in the universe, we look at them with great admiration, definitely show that there is a design behind them and as is obvious any design needs a designer or creator it.

One verse in the Quran implores us in particular to this area and says, “Have they not reflected on the domain of the heavens and earth and what God created therein?”

In another verse it also says, in the general sense of the meaning: in the creation of the heavens and earth and in the succession of day and night there are certainly signs for those who reflect. Those who remember God while standing, sitting, and laying down and ponder on the creation of the heavens and the earth, saying: Our Lord you have not created this in vain. Glory be to You. Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire. (3: 190-191)

Our Own Limitations.

In talking about the senses and the intellect or knowledge, I think anyone, even a person who does not believe in God, would admit readily that our senses are limited. Our perceptions are limited. Our sight, hearing, etc- we know that. Also, we know that our perceptions could also be deceived or they can deceive us. If you put a spoon in a glass of water, it looks crooked.

A very well known phenomenon is of people travelling in the desert or in hot areas and would see in front of them a lake or a puddle of water- the mirage- but it actually does not exist. At the time it’s seen it is a reality to the person seeing it. So our perception is very useful, but it still falls short of getting to know everything.

On the other hand, science is fine. Science can resolve many issues and problems that are purely scientific- that are purely technical. Science can tell you for sure how to use technology for example to communicate sounds and pictures; this can be determined fully by science. However, there are many aspects in lives of people that are beyond science also. There is the moral aspect, there are the ethical standards, and there is the application of the fundamental principal of good and bad.

As I said the [principle of good and bad] is instinctive but still needs some modifications and limitations. And we know throughout history that people have always had differences as to what exactly defines the proper ethical or moral standards. In order to resolve that problem, there must be a higher authority, God, Himself, telling us and providing us with stable standards of ethics and morality within which you can interpret various details.

Finally, and perhaps this is in my mind the most important reason, is that we know that knowledge is not only limited to science or books or perception. We know that there are certain aspects of knowledge, legitimate knowledge, which does not lend itself to any of those tools. For example, take the knowledge of the unseen. What happened in the past before history was recorded? If you wanted to get any information on that there is no recorded history. Or at least there is dispute about the recorded history.

Revelation can tell you what, for example, the stories of previous prophets and what they said and what their message was. There are issues that no matter how much you use your mind you will not be able to arrive at a final conclusion. An example of that would be the knowledge about God. You can’t feel the presence of God. You can feel the attributes of God but you can’t have full knowledge without having a prophet or messenger in receiving that revelation from God and the communication from Him to us.

So, in essence, I don’t see contradiction. Actually, they all supplement each other. They have to be simply used in the proper context.

[magari]

You can feel the attributes of God but you can’t have full knowledge without having a prophet or messenger in receiving that revelation from God and the communication from Him to us.

If you're stating that we are dependent upon a prophet then I will have to disagree.

[SpiritualMasterSlave]

You can feel the attributes of God but you can’t have full knowledge without having a prophet or messenger in receiving that revelation from God and the communication from Him to us.

If you're stating that we are dependent upon a prophet then I will have to disagree.

No not dependent, that's a different level for someone else. But I'm stating that in order to have full knowledge about God that was not recorded in history then you do need a prophet/messenger or a saint. It's not really hard to get a visit from a prophet or a saint in a dream, that is if you know how to contact them.

[magari]

Ok. I see what you're saying.

I personally skip the middle man.

Middle men are limited by their paradigms and like you said, god is the light shining through all religions.

[Horny Goat]

If a new prophet or messenger came from God to the Middle East, whether to the Jews or the Arabs, would anyone there actually accept him? Regardless of what miracles he produced. And if he said STOP KILLING, FLOGGING, BEHEADING and STONING, stop hating your neighbours, live in peace alongside one another, could anyone there accept it?

[magari]

There is a song by tool that is a story of a guy lost in the desert, visited by god, and given a message for the world.

Modern society ended up hospitalizing him and pumping him full of drugs to the point that he was shitting the bed.

If humanity is in line for another prophet I doubt that person would personify something that a select few individuals would recognize. They would probably embody a perspective far more modern than what we currently have today. In other words, the next prophet would probably choose words that the majority of the world can relate to, not just the religious.

[palindrom]

how do we know god exists?

i feel it in the longing in my heart, aching forever with love for the creation
i see it in the deep starry sky which makes me laugh with joy
i sense it in the beating pulse of life
i hear it in the silence

there is holiness everywhere
in the powerful
in the weak
in the happy
in the sad
in the wise
and in the very stupid

so...

let's dance
let's sing
let's be little blossoming flowers
having their life-time before it's all over again

pali

[SpiritualMasterSlave]

Yes Indeed, humanity is in line for the right-guided man who's a descendant from Prophet Muhammad and his name is Mahdi. The term "MAHDI" is a title meaning "The Guided one". Mahdi is a normal man who is going to follow the true Islam. Mahdi will be very just and his capital will be Damascus. God told us that Jews will master the world two times (we are during the first one) and Mahdi will appear between those two periods and will rule through the last one.

Mahdi is NOT a prophet but he is the final Rightly Guided Khalifa. Mahdi will lead Muslims to a great victory against the Christian Romans (i.e. All the white Europeans including the Americans). This great war is called al-Malhamah al-Kubrah or Armageddon. It will end up with a great victory to Muslims against Romans after six years. Muslims will take over their capital Rome (this can be any city). In the seventh year, the Anticrist will appear and a greater war will start between Jews and Muslims for 40 days (longer than usual days) and will end when Jesus (pbuh) will come and Muslims will kill all Jews. All people will convert into Islam. Peace will pervade the whole world and Prophet Jesus will live on earth for 40 years with a happy family.

Allah's Apostle (pbuh) said: The Last Hour would come (when) the Romans would form a majority amongst people (this is exactly the situation today since Europeans and Americans are the largest group).

"You will invade the Arabian Peninsula and Allah will grant it (to you). Then (you will invade) Persia and Allah will grant it (to you). Then, you will invade Rome (the Romans) and Allah will grant it (to you). Then, you will invade The Dajjal/The Antichrist (and Jews) and Allah will grant him (to you)." (So the Dajjal would not appear until Rome is conquered.)

The Prophet (pbuh) said: The time between the great war and the conquest of the city (Constantinople) will be six years, and the Dajjal (Antichrist) will come forth in the seventh.

If only one day of this world remained. Allah would lengthen that day, till He raised up in it a man who belongs to me or to my family whose father's name is the same as my father's, who will fill the earth with equity and justice as it has been filled with oppression and tyranny.

The Mahdi will be of my stock, and will have a broad forehead, a prominent nose and he will rule for seven years.

[Horny Goat]

The obvious thing to point out to you about your Great War between Muslims and Christian Romans is that Christianity is all but gone as a world power. Here in Britain only one million people attend church weekly. It is a post Christian country. Christianity is probably far stronger in the Middle East amongst its small number of followers than it is in the rest of the world. Jihadi's who come to Britain to kill Christian's will find there aren't any left.

[Eremita]

Mahdi is NOT a prophet but he is the final Rightly Guided Khalifa. Mahdi will lead Muslims to a great victory against the Christian Romans (i.e. All the white Europeans including the Americans). This great war is called al-Malhamah al-Kubrah or Armageddon. It will end up with a great victory to Muslims against Romans after six years. Muslims will take over their capital Rome (this can be any city). In the seventh year, the Anticrist will appear and a greater war will start between Jews and Muslims for 40 days (longer than usual days) and will end when Jesus (pbuh) will come and Muslims will kill all Jews. All people will convert into Islam. Peace will pervade the whole world and Prophet Jesus will live on earth for 40 years with a happy family.

This is why we can't have nice things.

There is no such thing as a great war. There is no excuse for murdering people. The extermination of Jews and white people is not a positive development. Anyone who finds himself taking this fundamentalist horse shit seriously should seek help on the understanding that he has serious psychological issues. Like batshit crazy mental. What offends me the most is that this kind of bollocks is packaged and sold in terms of spirituality, when I can think of nothing less spiritual than wanton violence against people who are of a different race, or have different beliefs to you. What the Hell is wrong with you?

Allah's Apostle (pbuh) said: The Last Hour would come (when) the Romans would form a majority amongst people (this is exactly the situation today since Europeans and Americans are the largest group).

This is incorrect. White people, including all Americans, all Europeans and throwing in all other colonial States for good measure, only make up something like 30% of the world's population at best, and the fastest growing nations are Asian. I guess the Apostle was wrong.

[magari]

Mahdi is NOT a prophet but he is the final Rightly Guided Khalifa. Mahdi will lead Muslims to a great victory against the Christian Romans (i.e. All the white Europeans including the Americans). This great war is called al-Malhamah al-Kubrah or Armageddon. It will end up with a great victory to Muslims against Romans after six years. Muslims will take over their capital Rome (this can be any city). In the seventh year, the Anticrist will appear and a greater war will start between Jews and Muslims for 40 days (longer than usual days) and will end when Jesus (pbuh) will come and Muslims will kill all Jews. All people will convert into Islam. Peace will pervade the whole world and Prophet Jesus will live on earth for 40 years with a happy family.

This is why we can't have nice things.

There is no such thing as a great war. There is no excuse for murdering people. The extermination of Jews and white people is not a positive development. Anyone who finds himself taking this fundamentalist horse shit seriously should seek help on the understanding that he has serious psychological issues. Like batshit crazy mental. What offends me the most is that this kind of bollocks is packaged and sold in terms of spirituality, when I can think of nothing less spiritual than wanton violence against people who are of a different race, or have different beliefs to you. What the Hell is wrong with you?

Allah's Apostle (pbuh) said: The Last Hour would come (when) the Romans would form a majority amongst people (this is exactly the situation today since Europeans and Americans are the largest group).

This is incorrect. White people, including all Americans, all Europeans and throwing in all other colonial States for good measure, only make up something like 30% of the world's population at best, and the fastest growing nations are Asian. I guess the Apostle was wrong.

This is why I prefer to eliminate the middle men in my spiritual work.

[the_spiral]

Interesting how every Abrahamic religion seems to have similar prophecies about killing off the other ones and ruling the world through the will of God after a bunch of holy wars and conflicts. I can't help but imagine a youthful mischievous deity whispering different things in different people's ears just to see what will happen.