FAQ in dawah: Atheism

What is Big Bang?

• Most scientists believe universe has a starting point referred to as 'Big Bang' theory
• Definition of Big Bang: "Energy and matter compressed into a small single point that expanded very quickly" (i.e. it contained everything for the creation of universe)
• According to NASA, Big Bang happened 12 - 14 billion years ago. Solar system is around 4.5 billion years old and humans existed for only few million years
• Definition of a cause: "Something that brings about an effect or a result"
• Scientists don't know what caused Big Bang

"I believe in Big Bang"

• Where did the energy and matter come from?
• What caused it into a singularity in the first place?
• How did it expand the exact way it did to allow universe and life to exist?
• Energy and matter are not conscious entity that moves by itself. Nor do they have will. They have effect and effect require a cause. So what caused it to exist and expand?
• Even scientists don't have answers to these questions

"Religion man-made. Science can explain everything" (Science vs Religion)

• Science based on materialism
• Science alone cannot prove nor disprove the existence of god
• Whatever was pre-Big Bang is outside realm of science. We cannot understand what was going on then
• You cannot have infinte chain of dependent things - else problem of infinite regression and we wouldn't exist today
• Whatever created universe needs to be outside of the chain (i.e. independent)
• This Creator/First Cause/Thing/God needs certain attributes such as knowledge, power, and will

"I can't see god!"

• Don't need to see something to believe it (e.g. your brain, gravity, doctor's advice, etc.)
• You can see cause of a thing
• Other forms of proofs such as testimony, intuition
• Universe is one proof that God exist - can a human create this universe?

"Universe doesn't require an agent (such as god)"

• Yes it does
• Universe is the beginning of everything as we know it - so it needs something with a choice to bring it into existence
• This thing cannot be "a natural cause" as natural is limited to universe and there was no universe at that time

"Don't know - yet" (God of the gaps)

"If god exist, why is there so much suffering in this world?" (Problem of evil)

"Just live a good life!" (Subjective vs Objective morality)

• Who determines what is 'good' and 'bad'?
• One person's good can be another person's bad (i.e. subjective morality)
• A person's own definition of good also changes with age and experience
• True objective morality can only come from God, who created everything and knows everything
• God's knowledge is not restricted to time and experience like human
• Atheist don't have a basis for objective morality as they can't answer where we come from nor predict the future consequence of their action
• Fitrah, the natural disposition, can only guide a little
• For complete code of life you need God's guidance

"If god has written everything already, then we have no control. Why blame people?" (Fate vs free will)

• God's knowledge does not prevent someone making a choice of their own
• For example, a teacher may know which of their student will pass or fail an exam. But the teacher themselves don't answer the questions, the student make their own decision
• But God knows everything - what you'll do, not do, and the outcome of all permutations
• Only following God's guidance can a person be truly successful in this world and next