In human history, the prevailing trend has never been to choose an option between God and no-God. The trend has generally been to choose between God and association of gods. The concept of no-God is, in fact, a contingent category of reason. The overwhelming majority of humanity has been the worshipper of God alone or associating gods and goddesses with God in one way or the other. Only a minuscule of human population in all ages has had inclination towards agnosticism. Atheists have also been found with the same intellectual proposition of agnostics but remarkably with a difference in claim and attitude from that of agnostics.
No-God Assertion
Stephen Hawking was the vocal proponent of no-God theory in explaining the creation of universe in the modern age. He proclaimed as scientific certainty that there is ‘no creator’ behind the creation of universe – neither we need God nor does He exist. But the most he could have claimed as a scientist, on the basis of observations applied for scientific explanation of the mystery of beginning of ever expanding universe, that he had succeeded only partially in explaining how and when of universe. He should have acknowledged the limitation of human reason on the question of who and why of the creation.
Nobody can claim to have known the first cause of creation – whether the universe came into being instantly on its own or the ‘omnipotent and omnipresent Creator’ prompted ‘nothing’ to become ‘something’ as an expanding universe. Hawking would have been aware of the fact that scientific reasoning works within space-time limitations and not beyond. Human reason can only guess and conjecture beyond the limit of space-time. As such, his real position was that of an agnostic who can’t be sure on affirmation or denial of God like a believer whose belief emanates from spiritual urge supported by common sense. But Hawking chose to be a preacher-atheist.
God, no-God Alike?
To some, God and no-God are alike. They remain in doubt and suspicion. This is the real position of an agnostic. Thus an agnostic’s position is that of intellectual uncertainty away from the position in real life. Real life is lived with some worldview, moral values and social behaviour, which are shaped by ancestral traditions or inculcated through social interactions and personal contemplation. As such, despite intellectual uncertainty, an agnostic takes a position in practical life, consciously or unconsciously, on the issues of First Cause of existence and the purpose of existence.
In fact, an atheist and an agnostic both are on the same footing of human knowledge and reason – limited, partial and workable in space-time limit – but with a difference in claim and attitude. The former is assertive, like a believer in no-God proposition whereas the latter remains indecisive and doubtful on God or no-God. The former’s stand implies intellectual arrogance whereas the latter’s intellectual inadequacy.
Logical Option
Then what is the logical and practical option before human being? Human being is driven not only by intellectual reasoning but also by intuitive understanding and spiritual yearning. Present and the past of humankind reveal that option preferred has either been to believe in unique God or association of multiple gods.
Association of multiple gods
In all ages, a large chunk of population has reposed faith in and reverence for multiple gods and goddesses which shapes spiritual orientation, individual behaviour and social structure of humankind. However, despite believing in multiple gods and goddesses, human being has never denied the all-powerful God having superiority over the gods he revered and the demons he feared. Though the multiplicity of gods doesn’t refute the existence of unique God yet certainly it pulls life in different directions. The most compelling question is how to justify the contradiction of simultaneous belief in God and multiple gods without diminishing the attributes, powers and uniqueness of God. Common sense fails to justify the need of such a God Who cannot do what the lesser gods are supposed to do and if He is all-powerful to do, even creating this vast universe, what is the use of these lesser gods? Another question is whether these lessor gods are independent to act like God or subservient to the all-powerful God – all-powerfulness demands their subservience. If this is the position of lesser gods then these are merely the names with partial reflection of God’s attributes which are pretended to be gods.
God, the Omnipotent, the Omnipresent
Belief in one and unique God is prominently professed in three major religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam, covering an overwhelming majority of population. The belief is that God is unique, omnipotent and omnipresent. He is the sole creator of the universe Who nourishes and sustains His creatures. He is all-powerful to command and control the affairs of the whole universe. He gives life and death. He is compassionate and merciful. He is all-knowing, super-intelligent, eternal and immortal. He is kind as well as just. These are some of the attributes by which He is known and comprehensible to human understanding.
Human intellect is unable to comprehend His Self and to encompass all the dimensions of His attributes. Now a question arises: if God is beyond the realm of human intellect, does He really exist as believed by monotheist, or is He merely a human fascination and creation of imagination?
The rationale is three-dimensional, complementing each other. First, human being has spiritual yearning to seek solace in a divine super Being – beseeching for help in distress, worshipping in devotion and expressing gratitude for blessings. Second, the existence of only omnipotent, omnipresent, compassionate, just, eternal and immortal God enables human reason to explain the creation of universe and purpose of human being bestowed with innate sense of virtue and vice, intellect to judge and free-will to act, implying responsibility and accountability. Third, the divine message of monotheism by trustworthy persons whose truthfulness, uprightness and selflessness is verifiable with critical appreciation by human being because it is within the reach of human reason. Acceptance of God also explains who and why of creation without any mismatch with ever revealing facts about how and when.
Diverse Positions
An atheist proclaims no-God theory as scientific certainty despite limitations of human reason. It is an intellectual arrogance. An agnostic remains in doubt and suspicion. It is irrelevant in practical life. A polytheist associates multiple gods with God. It is impairment of God, making Him one among multiple gods. A monotheist believes in one and unique God. It fully matches to the very concept of God, being the First and the Last, being the Manifest and the Hidden – the Real Mystery beyond human reason.