Recently I watched a debate on YouTube titled "Does the Universe have a Purpose?" This debate, which was held in Puebla Mexico, pitted three prominent atheists against three prominent theists, and to accentuate the contentiousness of the topic each individual was invited in to the middle of a boxing ring to argue their positions, where they could land verbal punches against their opponents.
Over the last several years, in the wake of 9/11, debates between religion and science -- faith and reason -- have become very popular and very combative. But these kinds of debates are by no means a new phenomenon. CommonSenseAtheism.com lists 564 such debates dating back to 1948, although these debates date from well before then. 2,400 years ago Plato wrote, "Atheism is a disease of the soul before it becomes an error of understanding," and 300 years later the Roman philosopher Seneca the Younger proclaimed, "Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful."
And the debate continues unresolved. One need only look at a series of blogs here on the Huffington Post, along with the many strongly worded comments, to see that we are no closer to coming to a conclusion than were Plato and Seneca.
The two main topics of these debates are the nature of religion and the existence of God. It is crucial, though, that these two topics be examined separately. It is possible to constructively debate the merits or problems with religion. We can all concede that people have acted wickedly in the name of religion, that dogmatic, fundamentalist religion has caused much suffering, and that the refusal to accept the findings of science which are in conflict with one's doctrine is a foolish and small-minded position. To simply dismiss all religion, however, is not a rational or informed position, because we can also concede that religion has brought much good to the world, that most believers are not literalists, that religion itself is a very diverse and complex institution, and that insecurity, ideology and greed for power, not religion, have been the causes of most wars (and that to call Communism, Fascism, Nationalism and Nazism "religions" is to so distort the definition as to make it useless and unintelligible).
When the debate moves on to question of the existence of God, though, the dialogue hits a brick wall. The atheist side typically presents the position that belief in God is an immature science and that God is a provable or disprovable hypothesis for why things are the way they are, which, they argue, can be easily disproved: Evolution eliminates the need for a creator, double blind tests prove that prayer doesn't work, psychology has demonstrated that human beings often mistake random pattern for meaningful purpose, observation shows that we are an insignificant spot in the midst of a vast chaotic universe, and the death of a single innocent child makes the belief in a benevolent, omnipotent, omniscient God absurd, or even offensive.
The theist side then responds with arguments to rebut these points: The universe is too fine-tuned to be an accident, without a loving God there are no objective standards or source of values, and the very fact that we can comprehend the workings of physicality with our minds demonstrates the existence of a purposeful creator. Atheists then counter that there is absolutely no objective, quantifiable proof that God exists, that religion is ignorant of, uninterested in or dismissive of modern science, and that to believe in something without proof is inherently dangerous, especially when one thinks that he is acting on divine authority. The theist responds, and so on.
The debate about the existence of God hits a brick wall because there is an essential misunderstanding about the nature of God: None of the proofs that atheists are looking for, or any counter argument from the theists, would be adequate proof. In the Peubla debate, Michael Shermer said that he'd find convincing proof, "if you could have God grow new limbs on amputees from the Iraq war, Christian soldiers, praying for them to be healed. This has not happened even once. Apparently God can not do even what amphibians can do." But even if this did happen, it would not prove the existence of God but would instead prove that there is some kind of regenerative force or energy that responds to the right kind of conscious thought. Likewise, a glowing presence and booming voice appearing on the White House lawn proclaiming "I am the Lord your God, who took you out of the land of Egypt, the house of bondage" as the waters of the Potomac part, would prove that there is an entity with powerful technology, and would be no more a proof of God than an airplane to a cave man. And irrefutable proof that Moses really did write the first five books of the Bible, that Jesus died and was resurrected, or that an unearthly being appeared to Muhammad and Joseph Smith to dictate new texts, would support some of the claims of religions but does not prove that there is a purposeful, loving Creator and Sustainer.
The truth is that nothing -- no thing -- can prove the existence of God.
The attempt to prove the existence of God through the scientific method of hypothesis, controlled experimentation, observation and documentable repeatable results is somewhat akin to trying to discover the cause of a person's response to a deeply moving work of art. We can examine the painting, analyze the composition of the canvas and pigment, study the arrangement of shapes and colors, discover the historical context of the work and the biography of the artists, or even conduct psychological experiments and CT scans, but none of this will do anything to explain, understand and share in the person's aesthetic experience. This person may try to explain her experience, but she will ultimately fail to convince someone who only sees pigment on canvas, and who may conclude that her experience is delusional, and that the study of aesthetics is a waste of time. To the person who was so deeply impacted by the painting, though, such an assertion completely misses the point, and does nothing to convince her that her experience is not real, and that she was not touched and expanded by her encounter.
In this way, arguments and experiments can not prove the existence of God because God is not an hypothesis. For human beings, God is the experience of a transformative relationship with creation itself, in which we know that the Universe is inherently meaningful, that we were created for a staggering purpose that will unfold over eons, that love and gratitude are the essential actual materials of our lives and that we are holy beings.
The experience of a relationship with God is not one of religious doctrine, does not come from statistics, experiments or argument, and is certainly not in conflict with science and reason in any way. It is also not about righteous certainty or judgment. The experience of God expands the possibilities for our lives and increases the feeling of mystery and intellectual curiosity about the world. Reason and observation are crucial elements in faith. Faith and reason are not mutually exclusive and are no more in conflict than civil engineering and poetry.
As a rabbi and person of faith, I have no interest in proving the existence of God and certainly do not want to convert anyone to my religion or way of thinking. What I am passionate about, though, is helping bring others to an experience and relationship with God because I know that such a relationship can create powerful positive personal and communal transformation. One brings another to the experience of God not through philosophical or material proof, but through living the example of gratitude, purpose, compassion and love.
No doubt the debates about the existence of God will continue, and we can enjoy the spectacle, but I suspect that no amount of clever verbal exchange will do anything to convince anyone either way.
And here is my response:
Taking into account all the evidence pointing to Jesus' Death and Resurrection as historical fact: I tend to believe what he says. You rise from the dead I'll probably believe you too. :)
Can God be philosophically and undeniably proven? No.Neither almost anything else. But, I think Jesus is a pretty good source on this one.
The article falls apart because there is no Jesus - which is what separates Christianity from all other religions. I'm not really interested in proving the existence of some ambiguous God either. I am interested in making sure that you know Jesus Christ died and rose for you sins. From there everything else falls into place.
...from my last post. I'm pretty excited about the Voyage of the Dawn Treader movie that comes out tomorrow. It has been my favorite book of the series since the first time I read it. (Probably, because of the awesome Baptismal scene.)
So far, though the first two movies have had their flaws, they have been very enjoyable. Hopefully, Voyage of the Dawn Treader is just as good.
“Most of us know what we should expect to find in a dragon’s lair, but, as I said before, Eustace had read only the wrong books. They had a lot to say about exports and imports and governments and drains, but they were weak on dragons.”
- C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Today, marks the 527th anniversary of Martin Luther's Baptism! I thought it would be appropriate to post this reflection from a couple years ago.
"But in all things commending ourselves as ministers of God, in much patience, in hard circumstances, in needs, in distresses, in plagues, in imprisonments, in insurrections, in work, in sleeplessness, in fastings, in purity, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the Word of truth, in the power of God; through the weapons of righteousness of the right hand and the left, through honor and dishonor, through slander and good reputation, as deceitful and true, as being ignorant and being known, as dead and behold we live, as instructed and not put to death, as sorrowful and always rejoicing, as poor and making many rich, as having nothing and also possessing everything." (2 Corinthians 6:1-10)
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
When things got really bad for Dr. Luther, he would remind himself, "Baptizatus sum." That means, "I am baptized." When it seems like everything has gone wrong and everything is messed up, you are baptized. And when it seems that all you have going for you is your Baptism, then you have everything!
That's how St. Paul can put such opposites together in our Reflection for today! All these opposites joined together, they don 't seem to fit. Honor and dishonor, slander and good reputation, deceitful and true, being ignorant and knowing, dead and behold we live, all of these are only true because St. Paul is baptized.
In times requiring patience, you are baptized. In great suffering, you are baptized. In hard work, you are baptized. In dire need, you are baptized.
In distresses, plagues, when they throw you in prison, you are baptized. When they revolt against you, in work, when you can 't sleep, then you are baptized, baptized, and baptized. When you don 't have enough to eat, when you hear the Gospel in its purity, when the kindness of God is obvious even to you and me: baptized, baptized, baptized, and baptized.
This is true solely because of the Cross of Christ. There on the Cross, Jesus took all that we ever have done - good and bad - and died in our place. He took what He earned and gave it to us. We are sons of God because He is the Son of God. We are heirs to heaven and earth, because all things were given to Him. We are kings and will rule forever and ever, for He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
All of that becomes ours in Holy Baptism! Jesus delivers Himself to us in the waters of our Baptism. He delivers everything to us through His ministers. We, who are dead, are, behold, made alive! We, who are sorrowful over our sins, rejoice! We, who are poor, are rich in the Spirit.
We, who have nothing, posses everything! At the font, it is given to us because, there, Christ is delivered to us.
When things look good, we are baptized. When things are normal, we are baptized. And when everything has gone wrong and it looks especially bleak, then this is most certainly true: Baptizatus sum! In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Well, I was all ready to write a real post about All Saints Day. Alas, classes got in the way. There just aren't enough hours in the day. (Okay, I'll stop rhyming.) Perhaps that post will show up later. I do have some ideas locked away in my head for it.
In other news: I may have started a HT blogosphere revival! Pastor Cwirla actually posted on his blog about Reformation Day. Read it HERE. Now, we just need Madre to start posting again and maybe Pr. Borghardt will post something besides sermons, once he gets settled in in McHenry.
Even though, technically, it is no longer All Saints Day (the liturgical day starts at sunset). I feel like I can post awesome hymns anyway. (Especially, since most churches aren't celebrating until next Sunday anyway.)
Behold a host, arrayed in white,
Like thousand snowclad mountains bright!
With palms they stand; Who is this band
Before the thrown of light?
These are the saints of glorious fame,
who from the great affliction came
And in the flood Of Jesus' blood
Are cleansed from guild and shame.
They now serve God both day and night;
They sing their songs in endless light.
Their anthems ring As they all sing
Win angels shining bright.
Despised and scorned, they sojourned here;
But now, how glorious they appear!
Those martyrs stand, A priestly band.
God's thrown forever near.
On earth they wept through bitter years;
Now God has wiped away their tears,
Transformed their strive To hev'nly life,
And freed them from their fears.
They now enjoy the Sabbath rest,
The heav'nly banquet of the blest;
The Lamb, their Lord, At festive board
Himself is host and guest.
O blessed saints in bright array
Now safely home in endless day.
Extol the Lord, Who with His Word
Sustained you on the way.
The steep and narrow path you trod;
You toiled and sowed the Word abroad;
Rejoice and bring Your fruits and sing
Before the throne of God,
They myriad angels raise their song;
O saints, sing with that happy throng!
Lift up one voice; Let heav'n rejoice
In our Redeemers song!
