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The Illusions of Atheism

By J. Lardjane

There is an ongoing discussion about atheism in modern western society. In


today’s world, the secular inquisitions against the spirit in the last centuries
have developed strong ways to push the world into atheism. Media, glo-
balization, materialism, consumerism, science progress have predisposed
individuals to atheism by neglecting God in their daily life. God is not re-
membered except when there is a debate about His Existence. The disap-
pearance of faith ignored distress, tackled false causes of happiness, and
made humans pursue things which are not compatible with human spirit
and reason. Virtues and morals have almost disappeared and are deemed as
abstract notions because of the absence of faith in the public sphere.

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The Age of Unreason: man.
This age has witnessed an unprecedented According to the Merriam-Webster dic-
technical and scientific progress at the ex- tionary, the definition of logic is the prin-
pense of human happiness and peace. It ciples and criteria of validity of inference
does not answer important questions about and demonstration; for example: A. This
life and existence. Logic is hijacked and de- article was written by an author. B. An au-
prived of its true purpose. Some people think thor wrote this article. C. This article has an
that it is irrational and illogical to believe in author. This same rule applies to everything
God, there is no reason or proof to believe in the universe, humans also apply it in their
that God exists. daily thinking skills but it is neglected when
In fact, everything around us, even the it comes to the Author of the Universe.
atheists themselves are proofs of the exis-
tence of God. God invites unbelievers in the The Soft and Hard Powers of Atheism:
Noble Qur’an to observe the wisdom of the In the past decades, discussion about athe-
winds, night and day. He challenges human ism was always associated with the ideology
reason to imitate the simplest of creatures of communism. As communism collapsed in
like ants and flies. The order and perfection the turn of the century, the Arab and Muslim
of the universe is clear evidence that this has world thought atheism had been destroyed
been made by a Superior Power and Superior by the fall of communism while in reality
Wisdom, known as God to believers. In fact, atheism was gaining more space in western
up to this day, scientists have not been able society. Modern culture is the crossbreed of
to fully understand or to imitate the mecha- capitalism and communism. Communism
nism found in the simplest organisms. This combined secularism, atheism, and a primi-
is known as the limitations of science, but tive theory of economics as its ideology. His-
some of them still hold the idea that science torically, it was an offspring of secularism
will explain everything in the future. For same as was liberalism. It was also a colo-
them, it is just a matter of time, a matter of nial empire like old colonial empires with an
time before humans pay the cost of uncon- economic enterprise like the old East-West
trollable ego that destroys the environment Indies companies. The difference between
and the human dignity in the name of ratio- both is that communism pretended to feed
nalism and scientism. people from the starvation caused by its
Therefore, atheists have no choice in the counterparts, and while the West used Chris-
future but to surrender to God in order to save tianity as part of its colonial propaganda, the
humanity and the planet from discontents of communist East presumed atheism as an an-
irreligious philosophies and the misuse of ti-dote for Christianity.
science. Despite this or other arguments, it is The association of atheism with com-
still complicated to persuade outspoken athe- munism serves atheism and “free thought”.
ists of the truth of God. The Noble Qur’an This makes future generations overestimate
mentions repeatedly Aql (intellect), Fitrah godless philosophies and might deduce that
(pure reason), and Mantiq (logic). Logic is communism and atheism were mere coinci-
nowadays exploited to argue a different po- dences. It also makes some Muslim preach-
sition than that of the primordial nature of ers look like imitating the style and fashion

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of Christian evangelists in warning against
communism while neglecting other conse-
quences of secular and liberal thoughts.
Communism is intellectually and cultur-
ally connected to secular thought and culture.
It attempted to explain the gaps that western
thought had not understood but provided the
unsuitable anti-dote. Social illnesses like
nudism, sexual revolutions, materialism, and
atheism were reinforced by the communist
philosophy, and then they turned out to be
capitalism’s response to communism in the
20th century. Communist economics and
politics were rejected but its views on nature
were adopted as a counter-defense.
While communism became a symbol of
the utopian face of evil in the past century,
new atheism began to spread in more effi-
cient and sophisticated ways through soft
powers rather than the hard powers of com-
munism. The soft power of new atheism is
much stronger and efficient than the military
and political campaigns which often push
their victims to grow more religious while tions.
new ( or hard) atheism uses many soft pow- A noted scientist described the acceptance
ers to make its victims preconditioned to ac- of evolution in the scientific community:
cept atheism. “The only basis (for evolution) to be accept-
ed, is that it is the only theory that has lesser
The Deadly Misunderstanding of Science or more extent tried to explain the origins of
One of the soft powers of atheism is using humans”. After all, it is just a theory, and un-
science in general and the theory of evolu- folding scientific findings in other fields are
tion in particular in manipulating people to undermining the pretentions of evolution. In
reject religion and religious beliefs whereas scientific methodology and empiricism, a sci-
this theory has been responsible for the larg- entific fact is the one which can be observed
est human loss in history. Eugenics, for ex- and/or examined. The Big Bang theory in
ample, was a direct consequence of the Dar- physics, for instance, has more credit as a
winist dogma which stated that “the civilized scientific theory than evolution as it provides
races of man will almost certainly extermi- scientific and rational undermining of evo-
nate, and replace the savage races throughout lution. The great physicist Albert Einstein
the world”. Through this, Darwin provided a neither accepted nor rejected the theory of
scientific basis for the survival of the fittest evolution as there is no scientific proof and
or scientific theory of the clash of civiliza- consensus pertaining to its validity. Dr Zakir

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Naik points out that evolution received sup- nomination of Nobel science prize winners
port from the scientific community “because account for more than 60 % self-proclaimed
it went against the Bible – not because it was Christians, and 25 % being Jewish, and the
true”. When the Big Bang was gaining wider remaining from different backgrounds.
support from the scientific community, John Atheism calls its followers to use science
Maddox, a scientist and editor of the Nature to deny God. Science does not answer im-
journal for years, rejected the big bang theo- portant questions about existence and the
ry on anti-creationist grounds rather than on meaning of life although its branch of phys-
scientific principles speculating that the Big ics tried to. Science neither proves nor disap-
Bang is “philosophically unacceptable… proves the existence of God; the existence of
creationists and those of similar persuasions God does not need science to be proven, it is
have ample justification in the doctrine of the an established fact. Once, Francis Bacon, the
Big Bang.” father of the scientific method said “A little
Dr. Maurice Bucaille, French medical philosophy inclineth man’s mind to athe-
doctor and convert to Islam, who received ism; but depth in philosophy bringeth men’s
in 1988 a prestigious award by l’Academie minds about to religion.” The same thing for
Française for his studies on Egyptology, science, some science incline man’s mind
published a prominent book in 1976 entitled to atheism but a full commitment to science
“The Bible, Qur’an, and Science” examining bring man’s mind to God and religion. God
scientific facts in the Noble Qur’an, and later is evident, the universe and its miracles are
another work entitled “On the Origins of Hu- all infinite proofs of God, and everything
mans” which undermined the scientific basis around us is evidence of the creation. Sci-
of evolution and the pretentions of Darwin- ence is just one way to increase faith in God.
ism. A mainstream media commented on his It does not need to dig into an electron or a
efforts: “while (Christian) creationism rejects molecule to believe that God exists. For ex-
much of modern science, Bucaillism embrac- ample, it has been discovered that the golden
es it.” In his book critical of evolution, he ratio, which is a mathematical value of 1.61,
stresses that many findings in other fields of also known as the “irrational number”, exists
science prove the incoherencies of evolution in all patterns of nature from simple geom-
and make it impossible. For example, when etry to human DNA.
faced with the question why humans haven’t A Survey showed that 76% of atheists
evolved ever since, evolutionist’s answer that believe in the existence of extra-terrestri-
this could happen only once, but this contra- als. Some of them even believe aliens have
dicts the laws of probability in mathematics. something to do with the creation of the uni-
This has compelled many scientists like the verse while they deny the existence of God
director of the National Institutes of Health and angels. They have an agnostic stance to-
in the United States; Francis Collins (biolo- wards extraterrestrials but an atheist stance
gist and ex-atheist turned catholic) to specu- towards God. Their logic is not faithful. Ex-
late that evolution is a “guided process” by tra-terrestrials have no proof but God has left
a Supreme Being. Contrary to a general per- us revelations, miracles and clear signs in the
ception propounded by atheists, according universe. The aliens’ theory looks similar to
to the Pew Research Center, religious de- the Aristotelian claim that the universe was

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created then abandoned by its Creator. the most developed in the globe. This was
Science is a double-edged sword with as a direct consequence of the tolerance and
double functions. One that’s destructive and justice practiced by Islam. The French poly-
another is enlightening. It does not answer math and historian Gustav Le bon asserts in
key questions about life and can be detrimen- his book the ‘Civilization of the Arabs’: The
tal to ontological and teleological reasoning world has not known more merciful con-
about the existence of God. querors than the Muslims, and a more tol-
erant religion than their religion. Force was
Criticism of Religion: Raison d’être of not a cause for spreading Islam…Muslims
Atheism were not blinded by their victories and did
The religious experience of Europe with the not behave with arrogance like conquerors in
Catholic Church was unique and one of the usual. They neither oppressed the conquered
most disastrous events in history. But it is nor forced them to convert to their religion
not a sufficient argument to judge all other or to give up their belongings”
cultures. Most of Europeans have been pre- Nowadays, most of people dislike the
conditioned to accept the bias towards reli- subject of history because of the wrong im-
gion. Although the disbelief in the existence ages conveyed to them. In fact, most clas-
of God is still a minority case, theists and sical thinkers and scientists of Europe were
non-theists share the secular mindset and devout Christians or God-believers in the
method. Aristotelian definition. The deadly misun-
During the supposed dark ages, Al- derstanding between science and religion in
Andalus or Islamic Spain, and many other the West led the masses to involuntary turn
places in the Muslim world were relatively their backs against the intellectual and scien-

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tific heritage of Islam. Crimes perpetrated in the early third
Atheist philosophies gave birth to militant millennium awoke a long sleeping hatred
godless ideologies that sought to erase all re- against religion in general and against Islam
ligions through soft and hard powers. A long in particular. As Muslims, we are partially
series of Black Books have been produced in responsible for the anti-religious sentiment
recent years documenting the unprecedented in the West after 9/11, not because a hand-
massacres perpetrated in the name of athe- ful of terrorists pretended to be Muslims, but
ism and godless thoughts. because we are passive and silent in defend-
Some western historians attempted to ing Islam against those terrorists. American
challenge the secular academic consensus philosopher David Berlin ski noted that “The
against religion, for example, Historian Jef- advent of militant atheism marks a reaction,
frey Burton Russell pointed out in his book a lurid but natural reaction, to the violence in
“Myths about Christianity” that “atheist rul- the Islamic world.” Our silence and absence
ers such as Lenin, Hitler, Stalin, Mao Zedong in Dawah encourages others to suspect us as
and Pol Pot tortured, starved and murdered accomplices. If we, for example, just focus
more people in the twentieth century than all on the scientific and intellectual heritage of
the combined religious regimes of the world Islamic civilization, that would save a lot of
during the previous nineteen centuries.” He people from the darkness of atheism.
also noted that “numerous cases of supposed On the turn of 2001, new atheism ex-
acts of religious wars in the past and now ploited the historical hatred of the Christian
all primarily motivated by social, political, right towards Muslims to transmute them
and economic issues rather than religion”. into atheists, and put more pressures on both
In another monumental work “The Myth of fronts. Despite that the world has far many
Religious Violence”, historian William Ca- issues than religious conflicts tanned with
vanaugh dismantled the perceived links be- Islam, the UN listed many issues: climate
tween violence and religion. change, smoking, crimes, drugs, starvation,
Despite all the misfortunes caused by drought, poverty...etc.
secular and irreligious thoughts in the 20th When atheism is faced with all those
century, the world has not yet awakened at kinds of arguments, they say atheism is just
the risks of losing faith at the expense of about unbelief in the existence of God whilst
secular dogmas of atheism and scientism. religion is still fought like a public enemy
We usually hear: “Religion is the main cause and threat. Instead of dealing with each issue
of violence, it is not compatible with science appropriately with wisdom and diplomacy, it
and progress, and it is regressive and oppres- aims to erase all cultures and propound athe-
sive to human rights and liberties.” In fact, ism as the solution. Classical atheism cost
dichotomies like science-religion, reason- humanity the darkest episodes in history, and
faith, and body-mind never conflicted with- new atheism can do worse if things don’t
in the Islamic worldview and history. The change.
golden age of science in Islam came straight
some decades after the Revelation and most The Atheist View of God
of Islamic philosophy prospered as an inde- There is no coherent definition of “atheism”
pendent approach to refute secular ideas. as atheism is itself a self-contradiction. An

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atheist can be an agnostic, signs of Outside Cause, but am not an atheist. An atheist
pantheistic, non-theist, or unfaithful to his job, denies is someone who has compel-
physicalist with light techni- that everything has a cause. ling evidence that there is
cal differences between the Professor Richard Muller at- no Judeo-Christian-Islamic
terms, but all agree with the tested: “God is obvious, but God. I am not that wise…
denial of God. Some scien- not seen by people who are Why are you in such a hurry
tists claim to believe in De- distracted (e.g by physics) or to make up your mind?” The
ity which is not the same De- who close their eyes.” American philosopher Mi-
ity perceived by others. The All theories which study chael Ruse often says that
new atheists are identified by the universe still can’t per- he feels ashamed and embar-
Professor Richard S. Muller, fectly describe the Creation rassed to be an atheist when-
a prominent physicist and by the Perfect Creator. Phys- ever atheism is under criti-
tolerant reader of Islam, as ics, mathematics, and biol- cism.
‘physicalists’ rather than ogy are laws and interpre- The universe testifies that
atheists. tations put up by men who there is no God but Allah.
The following statements have limitations. A science is The greatness of the universe
are clear examples of sci- an instrument for discover- is an affirmation of the Cre-
entific arrogance and ego- ing and explaining the signs ator who should not be de-
scientism. Albert Einstein in nature or for inventing scribed as or assimilated with
said: “I want to know how useful things for men. It is his creations. In the Noble
God created this world...I like a pen that can be used Qur’an, the story of Prophet
want to know his thoughts; to write anything on a pa- Mussa (peace be upon him)
the rest are details.” Some per. The blind-heartedness tells us how the mountain
thirty years later, Stephen towards God reminds us of at Sinai could not withstand
Hawking, a renowned physi- perished ancient civiliza- the majesty of Allah: “And
cist like Einstein retorted the tions that tried to challenge when Musa (Moses) came at
same view: “would be the God given nature, and then the time and place appointed
ultimate triumph of human subsequently vanished. by Us, and his Lord spoke to
reason - for then we should The “God-denial” is just him, he said: “O my Lord!
know the mind of God.” In a psychological attitude Show me Yourself, that I
Islamic cosmology, some and syndrome confirmed by may look upon You.” Allah
laws of the universe are Al- atheist scientists and writ- said: “You cannot see Me,
Qadar or measure (Surat ers like Isaac Asimov and but look upon the mountain
Al-Qamar, 54, verse 49) and Carl Sagan. The former said if it stands still in its place
Al-Mizaan or balance (Su- about himself “Emotionally then you shall see Me.” So
rat Al-Rahman, 55, verse 7). I am an atheist, I don’t have when his Lord appeared to
Physical theories try to ex- the evidence to prove that the mountain, He made it col-
plain the universe with phil- God doesn’t exist, but I so lapse to dust, and Musa (Mo-
osophical endeavors but do strongly suspect he doesn’t ses) fell down unconscious.
not grasp the signs of God in that I don’t want to waste my Then when he recovered his
their study. A scientist is like time.” And the latter pointed senses he said: “Glory be to
a detective who ought to tell out to the same situation “I You, I turn to You in repen-

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tance and I am the first of the rationalism cannot overcome Philosophy”: “Our use of the
believers.”(Surat Al-Araf, or achieve the wisdom of phrase the “Dark Ages” to
Verse 143) pure religion. cover the period from 600 to
Towards an Islamic Phi- Professor Richard S. 1000 marks our undue con-
losophy of Science Muller of Berkley University centration on Western Eu-
Islam is a perfect system said about Islam: It is a great rope... From India to Spain,
of beliefs, principles, and religion. I was raised Catho- the brilliant civilization of
values. It takes all of the re- lic, and now I am “lapsed”, Islam flourished. What was
ligious, political, economic, although I still see truth and lost to Christendom at this
psychological, and racial beauty in it. But I prefer Is- time was not lost to civiliza-
ingredients, or characteris- lam, I am not a practicing tion, but quite the contrary…
tics, to make human family Muslim, but I find that the To us, it seems that West-
and society complete. These concepts of Islam are closer European civilization is civi-
words were uttered by Mal- to my sense of God than are lization, but this is a narrow
colm X during his journey to the concepts of Christian- view. Most of the cultural
Hajj. Science is not able to ity or Judaism or any of the content of our civilization
unite people socially and to many other religions I’ve comes to us from the Eastern
reform them spiritually. Hajj looked at. Mediterranean.”
is one of the best examples Bertrand Russell wrote The American chemist
which prove that science and in “the History of Western and historian George Sar-

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es, and it has no issues with
modern science and technol-
ogy. It rather disagrees with
the premises and assumptions
of the philosophy of science.
In the secular world, the
philosophy of science is pro-
mulgated under the banner
of “the public understanding
of science” or “the public
awareness of science” which
in many developed countries
are –unfortunately- often
headed by atheists. In the
Muslim world, Malaysia and
Pakistan have partially won
the battle against the “athe-
ton, regarded as the founder curately describes scientific ist understanding of science”
of the discipline of history facts. There are 6,236 verses by Islamization of secular
of science, views that the including 750 verses having knowledge and promulga-
main task of humankind to- explicit references to intel- tion of Islamic values into
wards science was accom- lect and critical thinking, and science. Malaysia is a lead-
plished by Muslims, and that more than 1,200 verses with ing country in scientific in-
modern sciences have been facts compatible with mod- novation and is one of the
founded by Muslims. This ern scientific findings such as world’s fastest developing
was endorsed by historian human embryology in Surat countries. Pakistan is the sin-
Franz Rosenthal in his book Al-Mouminun (verses 12 to gle Muslim country that has
“Knowledge Triumphant” 14) and the golden ratio of produced the largest number
which coined the phrase: Is- Al-Ka’aba in Surat Al-Imran of eminent scientists and has
lam is science. (verse 3). The Divine Reve- related Qur’anic verses to its
Such a religion has cer- lation provided scientific and science textbooks entries.
tainly the potential to guide ethical guidance for Muslims Science cannot solve world
humanity to create balances in their golden age of science. issues without a spiritual in-
that solve issues of science- If the Noble Qur’an said the sight and guidance. Science
religion and reason-faith, earth was flat, early and me- without faith is like a body
etc. When Islam was re- dieval Muslims would have without a soul. Islam and sci-
vealed by Allah in the 7th found no excuse to denounce ence can work together to
century, it was a light upon this mistake as there was no make the world a better place.
light, and one of those lights clerical institution surveying A future scientific renaissance
is the scientific dimension of and prosecuting scientists should be based on environ-
the Noble Qur’an. and thinkers. Islam served as mentalism and egalitarianism
The Noble Qur’an ac- the basis for modern scienc- guided by Islamic Principles.

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