The Answer for Faith-Based Theology
Intellectual Righteousness presents a logical argument for an Infinite Origin of all that is finite, uses the foundational reference point for defining values and proving equations as an example for context, and insists the Universal Origin is worthy of the highest esteem. While the logic is sound and consistent with what we have reason to believe, there are no words that can compel acceptance.
There will be plenty of opportunity to misinterpret meanings and ignore key points that dismantle your rebuttals. Is this an exchange of ideas or contest of wills? Can you put your views side by side with what will be expressed and be an objective judge on what is reasonable?
If you cannot, there is no need to go further. No amount of sensible reasoning can change your mind. If you want to explore what logic can reveal concerning the concept of God, I invite you to an understanding that is basic but defies expectation.
Try Logic Before Settling for Faith
There are many differences and nuances in the various monotheistic religions, but the uniting belief is God is the creator of all. By definition, the creator would not be made of or depending on the created. That would make sensory perception or imagination impossible, which gives the impression that we could never really know God through our typical methods.
Whenever our senses and imagination fail to give us adequate answers, we turn to logic and math. Why not with God? While faith can be reassuring, it allows the delusion of imagining the unimaginable. Besides, faith cannot be verified, leaving believers vulnerable to deception. Good intentions alone do not shield against falsehood.
Let’s try a simple exercise in logic to see where that takes us. If you want to isolate the creator, take away all of creation. That would include the things we need to perceive or imagine reality, such as: space, time, matter, and energy. If you believe God created everything, you must eliminate everything in this exercise. If you take away everything, then you will be left with?
The obvious answer is nothing, but that is such an ugly word it shouldn’t be used in reference to God. The word nothing has enough uses to make defining it messy. It could be none of something specific, which equals a lack. It could be emptiness or non-existence. In the absolute sense, nothingness is thought to be impossible because even that would be something.
If we must apply ‘nothing’ to God for the sake of clarity, it would refer to the necessary something that must remain in the absence of all else. When thinking of God as the creator, you imagine “He” created everything from nothing, so you are already able to understand and accept the idea of everything coming from nothing. Instead of separating them, we say God is the “nothing” that created everything else.
Zero: The Mathematical Placeholder for God
If we turn to math for a concept mirroring an uncaused cause that defies description, we don’t need complex formulas. The answer is elementary—zero. Because zero is also seen as insignificant, the difference between it and nothing may not be easy to recognize.
Of the multiple uses for zero in math, it is the foundational reference point used to define all value and the proof of equations. Without any theological connection, zero is viewed as easy to overlook but essential once discovered.
Instead of allowing alternative uses for zero to distort the connection between zero in math and God in reality, Intellectual Righteousness embraces it and explores all the implications. As the foundational reference point in math, zero deserves every description and accolade bestowed upon God with the exception of characteristics linked to human traits and tendencies.
Clarity > Comfort
Personification is not an essential quality of God. It is extremely difficult to see superiority or dominion without the capacity to choose, so it is a natural tendency to give what we revere human-like traits. While it can be more comfortable thinking of God in a way we can personally relate to, applying our virtues to God comes with our flaws and limitations.
If God had our morals, “He” would either have to be cruel or too weak to stop evil or suffering. Understanding absolute value and relating God’s role in reality to zero’s role in math, clears up any possible confusion. Positive and negative are perspectives that exist in equal proportion. Everything exists without respect of witness or bias. Absolute by default is positive. It isn’t the same as being all-good, but it’s understandable why the two get conflated.
Trying to use intellect to explain omniscience leaves room for surprise and secrecy. No negative means no possibility for ignorance. Not being limited by time means everything that will happen has happened from the vantage point of the originator of time. The law of identity says the creator would know every trait of the created. Part of those traits would include unbreakable limits and boundaries.
A physical appearance or local activity for God squeezes “Him” into those limits. The omnipotent cannot be disobeyed without unavoidable consequence, so meddling would be unnecessary. The intention of every action is either to improve or avoid decline, so the perfect has no reason to do anything.
Limits in language aid in the confusion. Verbs make us think of action, which would require some physical location or appearance, even if it’s translucent. Pronouns are an issue because God has no gender, and “It” may be too big of shock people comfortable with a personal approach to God.
Trust the Logical Process
Contemplating zero’s role in defining value uses something believed academically without any thought of theology as evidence of the Infinite Origin of the finite. Unfortunately, there are awe-inspiring descriptions that can captivate the imagination or personal interaction that touch the heart. Your reliance on faith was based on our inability to visualize the reality of God in the first place.
Don’t let your inability to imagine what I’m talking about be a reason to resist what you can’t refute. Instead of believing your unwavering belief in God gives you the freedom to imagine, trust in your ability to reason and accept what is logically sound and consistent with everything else we know. We have intellects for reason. It is a shame people think it shouldn’t be used when it comes to God.
God is to reality what zero is to math. The analogy can be used to prove God is real but different than what is expected. Logic withstands the test of scrutiny. In the face of certainty, why hold on to doubt? Explore the unseen constant of existence. Faith fades, but understanding endures.
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