p13 Master Proof

The Master's Proof by Creativity

By John Taylor; 2008 Jan 25, 7 Sultan, 164 BE

 
"It is not good to have zeal without knowledge; Nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way." (Prov 19:2)

 
I have been going on about how there is no proof in religion, only signs, miracles and confirmations. This in spite of the fact that I named my son "Hujjat," Arabic for proof, implying "Hujjatu'llah," proof of God. As a former atheist, proof of God's existence means that much to me. But that does not mean that I cannot be muddleheaded about it! Sure, there are proofs of God, just not in the modern English, scientific sense of the word. A proof of God is a very different kind of thing than a mathematical proof. Every discipline has its own criteria of proof, and divinity is no different. Anyway, today I want to look at the seminal proof that Abdu'l-Baha shared with a Western woman at the dinner table while He was still a prisoner in Palestine.

Some Answered Questions is among the few pilgrim's notes that was read and approved by the Master, which elevated them to the status of authentic holy scripture for Baha'is. The following disquisition was chosen, probably by the compiler, but certainly with the approval of Abdu'l-Baha, as the second talk in this collection of dinner table talks. This indicates the prime importance that He placed on the question that we are investigating in these essays, the proofs of deity.

Although I have thought about what the Master says here for many years, I still am not sure what to call it. Sometimes I use the term "Via Negativa," but I just went over the definition in the Catholic Encyclopedia, and their theologian's definition seems much narrower in scope, more a technical term guiding the use of other technical terms than an independent proof of deity. Where is a historian of ideas when you need one? Anyway, I am considering referring to it as a "Proof by Creativity," or even, using His exact words (not here, but elsewhere), "No Kingdom Without a King." His use of the term "contingency" suggests a family resemblance to Avicenna's proof by contingency. I will have to study a lot more to be able say anything more about it, one way or the other.

I will not give any further comments of my own but will append after the text of His talk a selection of quotations alluding to aspects of this proof of deity.

 

from: `Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions
Proofs and Evidences of the Existence of God

 
One of the proofs and demonstrations of the existence of God is the fact that man did not create himself: nay, his creator and designer is another than himself. It is certain and indisputable that the creator of man is not like man because a powerless creature cannot create another being. The maker, the creator, has to possess all perfections in order that he may create.

Can the creation be perfect and the creator imperfect? Can a picture be a masterpiece and the painter imperfect in his art? For it is his art and his creation. Moreover, the picture cannot be like the painter; otherwise, the painting would have created itself. However perfect the picture may be, in comparison with the painter it is in the utmost degree of imperfection.

The contingent world is the source of imperfections: God is the origin of perfections. The imperfections of the contingent world are in themselves a proof of the perfections of God.

For example, when you look at man, you see that he is weak. This very weakness of the creature is a proof of the power of the Eternal Almighty One, because, if there were no power, weakness could not be imagined. Then the weakness of the creature is a proof of the power of God; for if there were no power, there could be no weakness; so from this weakness it becomes evident that there is power in the world.

Again, in the contingent world there is poverty; then necessarily wealth exists, since poverty is apparent in the world. In the contingent world there is ignorance; necessarily knowledge exists, because ignorance is found; for if there were no knowledge, neither would there be ignorance. Ignorance is the nonexistence of knowledge, and if there were no existence, nonexistence could not be realized.

It is certain that the whole contingent world is subjected to a law and rule which it can never disobey; even man is forced to submit to death, to sleep and to other conditions -- that is to say, man in certain particulars is governed, and necessarily this state of being governed implies the existence of a governor.

Because a characteristic of contingent beings is dependency, and this dependency is an essential necessity, therefore, there must be an independent being whose independence is essential.

In the same way it is understood from the man who is sick that there must be one who is in health; for if there were no health, his sickness could not be proved.

Therefore, it becomes evident that there is an Eternal Almighty One, Who is the possessor of all perfections, because unless He possessed all perfections He would be like His creation.

Throughout the world of existence it is the same; the smallest created thing proves that there is a creator. For instance, this piece of bread proves that it has a maker.

Praise be to God! the least change produced in the form of the smallest thing proves the existence of a creator: then can this great universe, which is endless, be self-created and come into existence from the action of matter and the elements? How self-evidently wrong is such a supposition!

These obvious arguments are adduced for weak souls; but if the inner perception be open, a hundred thousand clear proofs become visible. Thus, when man feels the indwelling spirit, he is in no need of arguments for its existence; but for those who are deprived of the bounty of the spirit, it is necessary to establish external arguments.

(Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, pp. 4-6)

 

"Thales of Miletus, the first of the Greek philosophers, declares: `Of all things that are, the most ancient is God, for He is uncreated. The most beautiful is the universe, for it is God's workmanship.'" (The New Story of Science, 154)

"By the work one knows the workmen." - Jean De La Fontaine, 1621-1695

"I have no knowledge of Thee, O my God, but that which Thou hast taught me whereby I might recognize Thy Self, a knowledge which reflecteth only my failure and sinfulness." (The Bab, Selections, 206)

"Should the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? Should the saw magnify itself against him that moveth it? as if a rod should move them that lift it up, or as if a staff should lift up him that is not wood." (Isa 10:15, Nev'im)

"What nature is, then, and the meaning of the terms `by nature' and 'according to nature', has been stated. That nature exists, it would be absurd to try to prove; for it is obvious there are many things of this kind, and to prove what is obvious by what is not is the mark of a man who is unable to distinguish what is self-evident from what is not. (This state of mind is clearly possible. A man blind from birth might reason about colours. Presumably therefore such persons must be talking about words without any thought to correspond." (Aristotle, Physics, 193a, p. 117)

"No man's understanding shall ever gain access unto His holy court. As a token of His mercy, however, and as a proof of His loving-kindness, He hath manifested unto men the Day Stars of His divine guidance, the Symbols of His divine unity, and hath ordained the knowledge of these sanctified Beings to be identical with the knowledge of His own Self." (Baha’u’llah, Gleanings, 49)

 
"The Bat that flits at close of Eve
Has left the Brain that won't Believe."

-William Blake, Auguries of Innocence, 1803

 
“Why do they deny their Lord and Master?
They exist only through Him that is without form;
What, then, means their disavowal of their Sustainer?
This very denial of Him proceeds from Him,
This act is naught but a reflection from Himself!”

-Mathnavi of Rumi, Vol. 6, E.H. Whinfield, tr.