PROOF, FAITH AND PERSPECTIVE

Chapter 5

When addressing whether God exists, we must consider 3 aspects: proof, faith and perspective.

About Proof

I candidly admit that we cannot prove the existence or non-existence of God. But that position is not akin to agnosticism. I am simply acknowledging the problem inherent in providing the type of proof that would be necessary to satisfy the requirements of those who do not believe in God. To people who will only believe what they can perceive by means of the physical senses, nothing short of seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, or tasting God will suffice.

But God is spirit. Spirit leaves behind no footprints, fingerprints, or DNA—no shadow, no scent, no sound.

Thus, God's existence cannot be discerned by the physical senses or by the physical sciences, i.e., by empirical evidence. Such evidence can be used to support the conclusion that God does indeed exist, but God himself, being a Spirit, cannot be physically examined.

The physical senses have a limitation. It is readily accepted that there are real matters beyond the capacity of the physical senses to perceive. Science has discovered various means to aid the physical senses, such as microscopes, infrared and sonic imaging, satellites, etc., but even the extent of those enhanced perceptions is limited.

There is a huge gulf between matter and spirit. No physical scientific apparatus will ever reach across that gap. God is on the other side of that gap, and He assures us that, in the future, we will see Him face to face. But for now we can only perceive Him by faith.

About Faith

Faith has been defined by atheists as "believing without evidence." Certainly, some religious people believe things for which there is no evidence, but the above definition is incomplete and actually describes "blind faith." There is another type of faith—a superior faith, a faith stimulated and enhanced by empirical evidence. It is a mature faith achieved by a choice made after considering the evidence, "evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1).

It is the type of faith Jesus encouraged when he said to "keep on asking, seeking and knocking" for answers (Matthew 7:7--8; see Amplified and International Standard Version). And it is what the apostle Peter described when he said:

Make every effort to add virtue to your faith; and to your virtue, knowledge; and to your knowledge, self-control; and to your self-control, patient endurance; and to your patient endurance, godliness; and to your godliness, brotherly kindness; and to your brotherly kindness, love. (2 Peter 1:5--7 MEV)

Accordingly, faith should be neither discounted as fanciful nor set aside as the antithesis of knowledge.

Faith can and does co-exist and even thrive right alongside knowledge, reason, logic, and validated evidence.

Exercising faith opens the door to unexpected potentials. It makes room for unconsidered possibilities. Exercising faith can lead to knowledge and understanding in the same way that "thought experiments" can lead to knowledge and understanding.

Thought experiments are described as experiments carried out only in the imagination employed for various purposes such as education, conceptual analysis, exploration, theory implementation, etc. Many scientific achievements have been realized by first using thought experiments. Albert Einstein was a fan of thought experiments.

Faith is more than assured belief. Faith is one of our spiritual senses. When we go beyond belief and enter into the realm of faith, we can perceive by our faith the thing we seek. Those who have experienced faith perception know what I mean. For those who have not, no explanation could suffice. It's like trying to describe color to a person who was born blind. Perhaps in time, science will discover a new energy source that could explain the power potential of faith. But for now, I am quite certain that without the application of faith, empirical evidence alone will not satisfactorily prove God's existence to an atheist.

About Perspective

In gaining an understanding of facts and evidence, perspective is important. Conclusions formed from one perspective can be the exact opposite when viewed from another perspective. In fact, a believer and an unbeliever can look at the same evidence and reach opposite conclusions about the reality of God. Interestingly, the possibility of disparate conclusions based on the same set of facts is itself evidence favoring the reality of God. For whence comes the ability to perceive differently? If our world is a product of automation, how would we have different perspectives? But that is a subject for another book. For now, let me illustrate the importance of perspective:

In your mind's eye, conjure up a picture of a sweaty, filthy, snarling hulk of a man standing, legs spread, with a huge piece of timber in his upraised hand, breathing hate and animosity as he looks fiercely just ahead. You might conclude that this man is a violent, hateful, uncivilized brute. Without additional facts, who could fault you? But now enlarge the picture. In front of him crouches a tiger, and behind him, a woman and two children. Immediately, you recognize that such a picture stands for much that is fine and noble in the human race. But the man is the same in both pictures. Only in the second picture are you favored with a widened horizon, and you can now discern not only the reality of the situation but also the motivation of this man. What was once evil and uncivilized instantly becomes dignified and praiseworthy. The second conclusion is the exact opposite of what was first believed, yet it is the more accurate one. And it can evoke a compassionate and understanding response from you.

Thus, I propose that

Conclusions against the reality of God are based on a limited perspective or a limited window of evidence,

and that if one widens his perspective to allow in more evidence, the conclusions might significantly change. I further propose that a change in conclusions may activate faith, which will enable former non-believers to "see" or perceive God.

The previous chapters demonstrate how widening the perspective to include additional facts can lead to opposite conclusions.

Chapter 1, About Atheism, shows that while atheism might appear to be widespread, a broader look at the facts reveals that they are a very small minority whose population rises and falls from time to time, from generation to generation, and from place to place.

Chapter 2, Atheism and the Mature Believer, shows that while it appears that the atheist and the believer are at opposite ends of the spectrum, a wider view based on maturity and honesty reveals that they have similar ideals and could do more to manifest those ideals by pulling together rather than pulling apart.

Chapter 3, Removing the Straw Man Arguments, shows that while many of the arguments of atheism seem to support a conclusion that there is no God, a wider view shows that those arguments do not even address the fundamental issue as to whether there is or is not a God.

And Chapter 4, Religion's Contribution to Atheism, shows that while it appears that atheism and religion are fierce opponents, a wider view shows that they have unknowingly worked together, and continue to work together, to refine and mature religious thought. But, like an abrasive pot scrubber, when the grime is removed, the scrubber can be set aside or discarded.

All honest-hearted people should be open to widening their perspectives by accepting additional facts into various arguments that appear to favor atheism. Doing so will lead the honest atheist and the mature believer to a heightened respect for each other and to conclusions that favor the existence of an intelligent, loving, interested God who has never abandoned His creation.

The next chapter will discuss the evolution/creation debate and demonstrate that by widening the perspective of both the atheist and the religionist, a major obstacle to finding God can be removed.