When I look at the typical atheist vs theist debate, I see a waste of time. I don’t get what there’s to argue about. It’s really simple. Let’s just use basic common sense. If monotheists say their God is the creator of all, in order to get to that creator, in order to isolate that creator for understanding, take away the all.
If you take away everything, what are you left with?
The obvious answer is nothing, but that word is ugly. It has different meetings and a negative connotation, so it really should not be used in reference to God. In order to avoid offending or confusing anyone, let’s switch to math. In math, there is a foundational reference point that has no countable value, but it is the start of all counts and it is the balance of all equations. That value is easily overlooked, but once you find out of its existence, you realize you’ve needed it the entire time. That value is zero.
This is not a metaphor, I am not comparing God to zero because zero isn’t real. I am using the analogy God is to Reality what Zero is to Math in order to draw the comparison to the mental construct zero within the mental construct math to the role God plays in reality as the origin of all that is measurable.
Math is our most objective way of describing what is real. In order for it to be internally consistent, zero is necessary as a foundational reference point. There is no reasonable argument for the idea that the only part of our most objective way of describing reality that doesn’t describe a reality itself is the concept upon which all else is built. It makes no sense to try and exclude it when applying math to reality.
There is a reason we need zero as a placeholder in that particular position. A truly infinite reality would have zero finite traits. All we could only know about what it is is according to what it isn’t. I am saying the Infinite Singularity that makes a placeholder with no value necessary to define the value of everything else, is worthy of the highest esteem and the title God.
Zero’s existence isn’t being used as proof for God. Its necessity is.
God is to reality what zero is to math.
Describing God Using Zero
The reason for the analogy isn’t just to show God is real. It also gives us a way to describe a reality we cannot perceive, imagine, or measure without contradiction. We may only know zero according to what it isn’t, but we are able to describe it according to what it means to every other value. Remember, none of this is my opinion. We’ve known about zero’s role in math for centuries, and they teach it to children in algebra. You accepted it in order to get a good grade in school.
Zero is absolute. Because absolute value cannot be negative, this attribute gets conflated into omnibenevolence through personification. Zero is immeasurable and without beginning or end, but we tend to think of infinite and eternal as being larger or older than anything we can imagine. Perfect is without flaw, but we think of ideal. The lack of negativity leaves no use for positivity.
The Origin of all would be the source of all information and rules. Ignorance or the ability to be defied would be impossible. We personify this into omniscience and omnipotence and think God knows everything and can do anything. Such an attempt at praise is actually limiting.
People will try to point to zero’s lack of value as a reason to degrade or demean it as unworthy to compare to God. What I see is zero is invaluable. That is greater than any value. Even what would be considered the greatest is dependent upon it. Priceless is superior to anything you can put a price on.
God Has Always Been Impossible to Perceive or Imagine
People will act like it is hard to conceptualize what I’m saying because they can’t imagine what I’m talking about. I thought that is what everyone already believed. I explain God in a way that holds true to that universal belief, but that’s a problem…It is the reason religious people rely on faith, atheists say there is no evidence, and the undecided say none of us really know.
Math has held the answer for centuries. It is so basic, it gets taught to children at the beginning of algebra. If you want a way to conceptualize God, consider zero’s essential role in math. Don’t get caught in zero’s lack of value as a means of arguing. Recognize how zero as the foundational reference point is invaluable. We have no way to begin or end any measurement because it is the necessary beginning of all measurement.
Every attribute associated with God applies to zero once you get over the desire to imagine and personify.
The Futility of the Typical Atheist vs Theist Debate
The reason why the typical atheist vs theist is ongoing and it is so hard to decide which of them is correct is that neither of them is. Pointing out how someone else is wrong doesn’t necessarily mean your alternative is right. The analogy addresses both side’s issues at the same time, so neither are eager to agree with it.
While it may be comforting to be able to imagine or relate to God in a personable way, imagination and personification will inevitably lead to distortion and contradiction. Faith may free people to fantasize about God, but it doesn’t offer protection from falsification or fallacy.
Atheists point to this issue as reason to reject as if they see something no one else notices. Our inability to describe the Creator in a way that’s different than what we already apply to the created is why people cling to faith in the first place. Neither of you seem to ready to give up on your desire to personify and imagine God.
I get it. We tend to personify the supreme because we associate choice or the ability to reward or punish with power. We have a habit of trying to imagine something we are trying to understand because sensory perception is our first form of learning. Imagination is just its simulation.
The analogy is meant to take imagination and personification out of the God conversation. Anyone alive before al-Jabr may not have understood zero in a way that could help understand God. Those of us fortunate enough to be taught algebra have the luxury of learning and accepting zero’s foundational role in math.
Don’t let disdain make you dismiss zero. If you take an unbiased look at zero in its foundational role, you will find all the attributes associated with God. Even some of those that entail emotion or action are distortions of what is true about zero within math.
The Logically Sound Argument for God
I know what I’m saying isn’t the sexy choice. It doesn’t sound the most appealing. What it does sound is correct. There is no room to even begin a debate if you disagree. If you believe God is the Creator of all, there is no justification to include any of the all in your description. The Creator would not be made of or dependent on anything we can witness or imagine.
As much as some atheists like to stress they make no claim, denying the existence of an infinite origin for all that is finite implies the measurable is eternal. If you are willing to accept a contradiction as a part of reality, please stop pretending your rejection is based on logic. Only a fool would demand empirical evidence for the Origin of all that can be witnessed.
To claim there is no empirical evidence for said Origin would be to ignore 100% of any evidence we can gather about measurement. In order for there to be a first of anything, there must have previously been none. The existence of the finite is evidence for its Infinite Source. The existence of optical illusions and magicians are evidence against the notion that “seeing is believing”.
Zero’s role in math gives us a reason why we cannot witness God while giving us a way to describe God without contradiction. We may only be capable of defining zero according to what it isn’t, but we are able to describe it according to its value to the system of math and every other number. In math, zero is worthy of every superlative attribute given to God. Even the traits that imply personification can be seen as distortions of praise zero is worthy of.
Personification and imagination help make God more relatable, but they hinder understanding. Why add confusion where there could be clarity? God is to reality what zero is to math: the analogy that brings proof for God while removing the two biggest causes of confusion and contradiction.
This is so different from the norm that it may take some more time and research to fully accept and embrace. Take your time. Explore the unseen constant of measurement and you will find God. Apply what you learn to life, and you will find peace.
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