Arguing about God - The Futility of Mental Speculation
In the modern age, human intelligence is often misused in the attempt to challenge the existence or nature of the Supreme Lord through logic and debate. However, the Vedic scriptures explain that the Absolute Truth is acintya, or inconceivable, and therefore beyond the reach of mundane reasoning. Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully addresses the common arguments posed by atheists and impersonalists, proving that while God can be understood through submissive service, He can never be conquered by the independent strength of the mind.
The Futility of Mundane Logic
Many people believe they can reach a conclusion about the Supreme Cause through their own intellectual power. Śrīla Prabhupāda rejects this approach, explaining that since God is the original source of everything, He is not subject to the rules of human logic. The Lord is always free and independent; He is not an "order carrier" for our speculative demands.
- One should not try to understand the supreme cause by argument or reasoning.
- One cannot argue with the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Lord is always free, and therefore He can protect and can also annihilate. He is not our order carrier; whatever He likes He will do. Therefore He is the Supreme Lord.
- The Supreme Lord manifests Himself to the devotee in proportion to the devotee's service attitude and surrender. Arguments and debates are totally inadequate means for understanding the Supreme Absolute Truth.
- If one argues, "What is the purpose of this sinful creation and annihilation?" the answer is that to prove His (the Supreme Lord's) omnipotence He can do anything, and no one can question Him.
Refuting Atheistic Doubts
Atheists frequently argue that God cannot exist because they cannot see Him, or that He is no more expert than a human inventor. Śrīla Prabhupāda counters these claims by pointing to the staggering complexity of the universe, noting that the "mechanics" of nature prove the existence of a Supreme Mechanic far superior to any watchmaker or scientist.
- When one atheist argued that God is no more expert than the manufacturer of a subtle watch which has so many delicate parts, we had to reply that God is a greater mechanic than the watchmaker.
- Sometimes when bhakti-yoga, Krsna consciousness, is preached to the common man, people argue, "Where is Krsna? Where is God? Can you show Him to us?" In this verse (Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.3.26) the answer is given.
- Some atheists argue that the Supreme Lord can never descend upon this material world, but they are unable to give any tangible reasons as to why not.
- The original cause of everything is neither void nor impersonal but is the Supreme Person. Demons may say that this material creation is anisvara, without a controller or God, but such arguments ultimately cannot stand.
Challenging the Descending Process
A common point of contention is how the Infinite can appear within the Finite. Skeptics argue that Kṛṣṇa could not have entered the womb of Devakī or that His incarnations are made of material energy. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that such arguments stem from a lack of understanding of the Lord's internal potency, which allows Him to be simultaneously everywhere and in one place.
- One may argue that the Supreme Personality of Godhead (Krsna), who creates the whole cosmic manifestation simply by His glance, cannot come within the womb of Devaki, the wife of Vasudeva.
- Nonbelievers argue either that the Lord cannot incarnate Himself at all, or that if He does He descends in a form of material energy.
- Someone might argue that the Absolute would be affected by duality if He were both all-cognizance (Brahman) and the Personality of Godhead with six opulences in full (Bhagavan).
- One may argue that because this material world is created by the Lord, He is therefore responsible for its condition.
Confronting Impersonalism
The argument that God has no form or that the living entity is equal to God is a major philosophical hurdle. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes his interactions with proponents of such views, noting that even great teachers like Śaṅkarācārya had to employ specific arguments to hide the Lord's personality for a certain time, though the ultimate truth remains that God is a Person.
- If one accepts the Personality of Godhead, the philosophy that maintains that God and the living entity are one cannot be established. Therefore Sankaracarya argued against and refuted all kinds of revealed scriptures.
- One gentleman was arguing with me... He was supporting Rama-Krishna Mission. He said, "Even stool I consider God. It is God."
- Yamunacarya, a great devotee of the Lord in the disciplic succession from Ramanujacarya, has written two very appropriate verses in this connection (of impersonalists arguing that the God has no form).
Conclusion
In conclusion, arguing about God using the blunt tools of material logic is a self-defeating endeavor. Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully demonstrates that while the conditioned soul may feel empowered by its own reasoning, the Supreme Lord remains entirely beyond the reach of mental speculators. Arguments regarding the Lord's form, His descent into the material world, or His omnipotence are ultimately inadequate because God is not a subject for laboratory experiment or academic debate. True knowledge of the Absolute Truth descends only through the paramparā system and is revealed to those who possess a sincere attitude of service and surrender. As Śrīla Prabhupāda boldly states, he is prepared to argue in all seriousness with anyone who denies the existence of the Eternal Father, yet he simultaneously teaches that the highest realization comes when we set aside our pride and accept the Lord's words as they are. Ultimately, by moving beyond the platform of argument and into the realm of bhakti, the soul can finally experience the presence of God that logic alone could never reveal.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Arguing about God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.