Atheism and the Proof of God’s Existence
Main Idea
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III discusses atheism, explaining that an atheist should be approached through rational and theoretical arguments rather than biblical verses, since the atheist does not accept the authority of the Scriptures. He presents three main arguments for reflecting on the existence of God: the existence of life, the existence of matter, and the precise order of the universe.
- The Mystery of the Existence of Life: The Pope raises a fundamental question: How did life appear on Earth when, in its early stages, the Earth was a burning mass that could not support life? He explains that artificial insemination does not mean creating life, because the sperm and egg already carry life before entering the tube. He also refers to the wonders of living creatures, such as bees and ants, and their remarkable precision in their activities, reproduction, and organization, to demonstrate the greatness of the Creator.
- The Mystery of the Existence of Matter: He moves on to ask about the origin of matter itself and where the elements and substances that make up the universe came from. He explains that scientists do not create the properties of materials; rather, they discover them and make use of them in their applications and inventions. Carbon, oxygen, copper, and other elements have specific properties that allow them to combine and react. The Pope attributes these properties to God, who created matter and gave each substance its nature and characteristics.
- The Mystery of Order in the Universe: He points to the precise order governing the movements of the Earth, the Sun, and the Moon, the succession of day and night, and the seasons, as well as the order found in the human body and its various systems. He refers to digestion, blood circulation, the body’s defense against microbes, and the precision of the eye, tongue, and fingerprints. He also presents examples from plants and insects to emphasize that such precise order cannot be explained by mere coincidence, but points to the existence of a great Creator and Organizer.
Spiritual Message
The Pope explains that contemplating creation leads people to faith in God, and that the greatness of the Creator is revealed in the smallest creatures as well as throughout the entire universe. God is the One who brought matter into existence, gave it its properties, created life, and established the laws governing nature and humanity.
He also explains that God is Spirit and therefore cannot be perceived through physical senses or made subject to the condition of being seen with the naked eye in order to believe in His existence. Not seeing something does not mean that it does not exist, since many material things surround human beings without being visible to the naked eye.
Educational Lesson
The Pope distinguishes between two forms of contemporary atheism: existential atheism and atheism associated with Marxist thought. As he explains, existential atheism is connected with a person’s desire to be free from God’s commandments and the feeling that God’s existence limits personal freedom. Marxist atheism, on the other hand, is associated with objections to the existence of injustice, poverty, and the lack of social equality in the world.
He emphasizes that true freedom does not mean abandoning principles and commandments, because society cannot continue without moral values that protect its members and preserve their relationships. He also explains that faith in God does not contradict reason; rather, contemplating the order and properties found in nature leads to recognizing the greatness of the Creator.
Practical Application
The Pope encourages people to contemplate creation and not pass by the wonders of nature and the human body without reflecting on and recognizing the greatness of God. He also encourages them to remain faithful to their beliefs and God’s commandments, understanding freedom as a responsible way of life rather than merely fulfilling personal desires.
He emphasizes the importance of preserving the principles and moral values that protect society and avoiding being carried away by doubts and ideas that distance people from God. Faith gives people happiness and peace of mind and helps them live a righteous and meaningful life.
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