God, from the dawn of time to the present day, has been the most debated and controversial concept this wondrous universe has known. The belief in a supreme being who weaves the tapestry of life and time, not only giving birth to us, but crafting all that we perceive, study, cherish, despise, and marvel at—this notion of an omnipotent creator is a matter of great dispute. Friedrich Nietzsche often declared, “God is dead,” and saw the decline of religion as a crucial step towards human advancement. Similarly, Jean-Paul Sartre argued that humans were responsible for shaping their own meaning and purpose in life, claiming the idea of God was a human invention with no objective basis for belief.
As we examine ourselves—humans, animals, even the very earth beneath our feet—could it truly be nature that connected our organs with blood vessels? Could the cosmos, the stars, suns, moons, and planets we observe through magnificent telescopes have been brought into existence by the “Big Bang”? The renowned philosophers of ancient Greece posited the existence of a “Divine Power” during an era when polytheism was widespread. Ralph Leo contended that societies crumble when their faith in God wanes, but both the Roman and Chinese empires thrived under polytheism and atheism. The relationship between religion and societal progress eludes me. Leo, a Christian himself, would often deride his homeland, the United States, and urge us to embrace Islam as the true path. His hypocrisy was not lost on me.
I have frequently pondered the existence of God, debating from both perspectives, and always emerged victorious. Is it the very nature of God’s existence, or the scope of His power, that renders this subject so enigmatic and confounding, a realm of knowledge that lies beyond any of us? In truth, I find myself believing in a higher power, a God, Allah. Yet, I must ask why I sin. Just today, I transgressed the bounds of religion and succumbed to lust. They say God is most forgiving, but do we exploit this trait to defy the Almighty? Or is it the corrupting influence of temptation, the devil’s desires, that propel us toward such iniquitous acts?
Marcus Aurelius frequently exhorted us to heed the gods and offered them the most profound gratitude in the opening chapter of his Meditations. However, his gods differ from ours, deities that are now scorned and ridiculed, branded as madness. We know that history has a penchant for repetition. As atheism gains traction, will our God be mocked in the days to come? Or will we falter so profoundly as a society that we are plunged into darkness, with God as the beacon illuminating our path toward a new golden age?
Texts like these often face derision and get labeled as heresy, with most people hastily branding you a pagan for questioning the existence of God. I dislike being categorized with others who share my beliefs, fearing that by aligning with them, I diminish myself. Yet, as humans, we are meant to collaborate and foster symbiotic relations. We exist in an era where we, as Arabs, verbalize much yet contribute little, descending from our golden age. Even though most of us are believers, we produce few thinkers. Ralph often discussed the link between philosophy and religion and how they work together to shape an ideal society. He frequently spoke about how Al-Ghazali lit the fuse to a ticking bomb and initiated the downfall of the Islamic empire through the abandonment of philosophy. “Couldn’t God have saved them, they worshipped Him, while the bloodthirsty Mongols slaughtered them?” I often ponder the same.
I recall a conversation with Nevaeh, an atheist. She argued that if God existed, atrocities like rape would not occur, and innocent children would not be murdered. Is life truly a test? How are humans so exquisitely flawed? How do we grow up thinking, feeling, and suffering in similar ways? Our shared wiring only further supports the notion of a single creator. Are we really so different from one another?
Despite contributing to the empire’s downfall, Al-Ghazali is still considered one of the most significant theologians and philosophers in Islamic history. He was labeled as the very thing he detested. Have we strayed so far from our scholarly pursuits as a religion? Have we forsaken mathematics, reasoning, philosophy, and reading all for the belief in a god? How can everyone believe their religion is the truth if they differ so significantly from one another? Most scientists challenge the existence of a god since their job is to prove nature’s laws that define our world and the scattered galaxies of our universe. Yet, I believe that science further validates the existence of a god, a higher power who created something so perfect that every creation has an explanation or a formula. However, while most phenomena can be explained, many mysteries remain unsolved. As time progresses, we, as humans, will advance and solve the riddle of earth and nature.
Death is a paradoxically both beautiful and ugly thing that looms over our world. Despite its naturalness, we fear it. I often worry that my own or my parents’ deaths will occur before I achieve something significant. But why should I feel this way? Am I working and learning solely for their benefit, or for the greater good?
Aging is also a beautiful part of life that God has bestowed upon us. I find the wrinkles and lines on a person’s face to be fascinating, as they tell a story of the endurance of time. Yet, why do we try to hide them with expensive treatments and hair dyes? Why do we run from aging as if it is unnatural? Our prophet advised us not to dye our hair black, perhaps as a reminder to accept our fate and move with the times.
I agree with Francis Collins that studying nature can help us appreciate the wonders of God’s creation. However, I still have many questions about God and his existence. I take solace in Socrates’ famous quote, “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”
When I hear stories from religious texts like the Torah, Bible, or Quran, such as the tales of Noah, Solomon, and David, I wonder if they actually occurred on our planet or in a separate timeline or parallel universe. If these miracles happened in our time, would we see them as such, or simply dismiss them as tricks of the eye? This perspective doesn’t diminish my faith in God, but rather offers a unique viewpoint. It makes me wonder if other civilizations in the vast expanse of the universe were given the same lessons and prophets as we were.
I often engage in the Socratic Method when pondering these topics, asking myself questions and having dialogues from different perspectives. I search for answers that elude me, even turning to AI for help.
As an Arab, I feel like we are in the minority in a world where the West dominates and God has been abandoned by many. We see ourselves as the righteous ones, similar to how Aristotle elevated the Greeks to Alexander in a time when the Persians ruled the world. Will we have an Alexander to lead us, or have our offerings been spurned and God turned his back on us?
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