Ali Dawah - October 22, 2020MUSLIM TEACHES ATHEIST A LIFE LESSON - SMART RESPONSE
Episode Stats
Words per Minute
232.29947
Summary
In this episode, I explain why you don't need empirical evidence to believe in God. You need pre-supposition, not empirical data. God is beyond the physical, so why do you need empirical data to believe that God exists?
Transcript
00:00:00.000
Okay, what's your position? Do you believe there is a creator?
00:00:03.000
I believe there could be, but I don't see any empirical evidence and nothing could be otherwise.
00:00:07.000
Why do you assume there has to be empirical evidence for everything?
00:00:14.000
Hold on, if you were blind and I just turned around and told you that the sky was green, would you believe me?
00:00:32.000
You're 30 years old and you don't know if your parents are your parents till this day.
00:00:42.000
I'm asking you, I'm not strong man, I'm asking you.
00:00:44.000
Okay, but you don't find it necessary to do a DNA test right now because right now you don't believe in your own parents?
00:00:50.000
No bro, you're not being, this is called being disingenuous.
00:00:52.000
Of course you believe your parents are your parents.
00:00:55.000
Bro, you know what, you're going around in circles.
00:00:58.000
I'm just trying to highlight to you now that empirical data is not the only way to truth.
00:01:05.000
What I'm trying to tell you is that you believe your parents are your parents, not based on empirical data.
00:01:14.000
It's based on my idea that I believe the two people.
00:01:17.000
How did you develop the idea that your parents are your parents?
00:01:20.000
No, no, I'm asking you, how did you develop the idea?
00:01:25.000
No, it's based on the testimony of your parents.
00:01:36.000
Right now you believe your parents are your parents.
00:01:40.000
Yes, because I have no reason to believe otherwise.
00:01:42.000
Proving my point exactly, which is that you don't need empirical data to believe in things.
00:01:47.000
Empirical, the root, empiricism is one root to knowledge.
00:02:08.000
You're not just saying, oh, I believe these are my parents.
00:02:10.000
Because I can just say, I believe my neighbors are my parents.
00:02:14.000
You believe your parents are your parents based on testimony.
00:02:20.000
But what I'm showing you is your reasons for believing your parents are your parents
00:02:24.000
You can do DNA tests, but you don't believe in your parents right now based on a DNA test.
00:02:28.000
So then you're showing that it's irrational and there's nothing...
00:02:31.000
What I'm showing you, if you listen to me, what I'm telling you, I'm highlighting,
00:02:41.000
Therefore, when you try asking for empirical data for God's existence, you're holding a flawed position.
00:03:01.000
Okay, but have you been to the heart of Africa?
00:03:09.000
How do you know the satellite image is actually the heart of Africa?
00:03:11.000
How do you know someone has not just told you that?
00:03:13.000
See, now you're not being consistent because now you're saying it.
00:03:16.000
What I'm highlighting to you is that although you've seen a picture of the heart of Africa,
00:03:19.000
someone is telling you that this is Central Africa.
00:03:32.000
Maps are physical things which you observe, but you believe they're a map of a particular
00:03:36.000
thing based on the testimony of someone telling you.
00:03:41.000
It's based on the testimony of someone telling you this is the map of this place.
00:03:49.000
But it proves my point anyway, which is that there are many routes to knowledge.
00:04:01.000
Can I get someone else to speak to you about that question?
00:04:12.000
Bro, do you acknowledge that there are other routes to knowledge?
00:04:16.000
Prior to the existence of empirical data in the form of map making, through satellite imagery,
00:04:21.000
Yes, it was taking the opinion of someone else.
00:04:24.000
However, now that we've been able to prove it with empirical data...
00:04:28.000
Even today, let me give you a modern example, bro.
00:04:30.000
Within the field of science, the empirical field, right?
00:04:34.000
Most scientists base their work, their current work, on the testimony of previous scientists.
00:04:48.000
What I'm saying is that it's based on the testimony of the work of previous scientists.
00:04:52.000
Testimony is an integral route to knowledge you can't dismiss.
00:04:56.000
Because you came with the presupposition that empiricism is the only way to truth.
00:05:06.000
Now my point is that when it comes to God, why do you assume that there has to be only
00:05:13.000
When you acknowledge there's other roots to knowledge.
00:05:16.000
Because God is not a part of the physical universe.
00:05:18.000
He's distinct and disjoint from the physical universe.
00:05:22.000
He created the physical, not a part of the physical.
00:05:26.000
You cannot empirically prove or disprove God's existence.
00:05:32.000
Because you're open now to understanding there's other roots to knowledge.
00:05:40.000
Maybe when you're here next time, you can have that discussion.
00:05:56.000
You agree there's other roots to knowledge other than empiricism.
00:05:59.000
And that we as human beings are rational enough to have a discussion.
00:06:02.000
I want an answer from you next time as to how you account for rational faculties on your
00:06:10.000
Maybe next time, when you come back next time, you can come with something.