Ever since ancient times, the argument over whether God exists or not, has conceived the silliest and most profound debates known to mankind. This persuasive essay argues that God might be real. However religion is a fabrication designed to control mankind. Albert Einstein said “The word god is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this” (“Positive Atheisms – Albert Einstein Quote”). In consideration of this theme, a comparative review of the worlds’ three major books of religion (the Torah, the Quran, and the Bible) shall ensue. Although the argument ultimately communicates its view from the armchair of an atheist, counterpoints for God’s existence integrate the essay. For this reason, fairness aims at achieving validity. The three above mentioned texts, which many consider holy, have undeniable similarities. Yet an exploration of updates on the rules of their originally written predecessors, stir the imagination. This argumentative journey posits that God might exist, but religion is simply a fabrication at best.
First, an overview of the Quran is delivered for the reader’s perusal. What do Muslims believe, and what principles does their book, the Quran uphold? According to the ‘Islam Guide,’ the Quran teaches the existence of a single god who has no son. This source explains that the Quran teaches “He is God, the One. God, to Whom the creatures turn for their needs. He begets not, nor was He begotten, and there is none like Him” (“Brief Guide to Understanding Islam”). The Quran holds the principle that there exists a single ‘God’ who reigns supreme, as the creator of all living and the whole universe. They believe, according to their written Quran, that this god-being hears all, sees all, and is all-knowing. From the teachings of the Quran, readers can gather that their God is totally perfect, and that he could never become incarnate. In other words,
Muslim beliefs deriving from the Quran embrace the idea that this creator of all must be limited in that he could never transform himself into a human being.
Other basic beliefs found in the Quran show that angels exist. The angels, according to the Quran worship the Creator God and that the one identified as “Gabriel” floated the Quran book down to Muhammad. The only valid religious books, in terms of the direct religion of Islam, are found in the Quran – according to their religious tradition. The Quran teaches in 33:40 that “Muhammad is not the father of any one of your men, but he is the Messenger of God” (“Brief Guide to Understanding Islam”). Muslims adhering to the beliefs taught in their book, the Quran assess that there is such an inevitable event as an appointment with God. In other words, they embrace a faith in the existence of a ‘Judgment Day.’ The common factors with the Torah and the Bible is a claim to the existence of a Holy God who is the Creator and that this real (and authoritative Being) has the right to exercise judgment. One striking difference between the Quran and the Bible is one claims God has a ‘Son.’ Perhaps Muslims find this hard to believe, is because they view it as a man became God. A Christian would hold that God has the power to become a man.
The book of the Torah is normally thought of as embraced by the Jewish people, Israelites, or followers of Moses and Abraham. The Torah is actually considered the “Jewish Written Law,” which consists of “the five books of the Hebrew Bible” (“Judaism Written Law Torah”). The history of the Torah originally coming into existence derives from when Moses ascended Mt. Sinai, and the “Old Testament,” which is the Torah, were revealed and given by God. The Judaic belief of God, based upon the Torah interprets God as pre-existent, and that the Torah ‘book’ was “one of the six or seven things created prior to the creation of the world” (“Judaism Written Law Torah”). So, just as God pre-existed, the Torah did as well. It is also important to realize that the concept of the Torah’s pre-existence permeates the rabbinic literature. The Torah’s similarities to the Bible, are tightly woven into the scripture texts of both books. For example, “In the Bible, the Torah is referred to both as the "Torah of the Lord" and as the "Torah of Moses," and is said to be given as an inheritance” to the peoples of Jacob, the true priests of humanity (“Judaism Written Law Torah”). The other extraordinary feature about the Torah exhibits the notion that its nature, message, and purpose are indistinguishably one.
The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ, the historically valid figure, was God incarnate. The Bible as text, is comprised of the Torah, other books of various prophets, and the New Testament. The New Testament gives an account of Jesus’s life and acts. Considered a sacred book of books, it teaches humans were created “with the power to choose between good and evil” and rebelled in disobedience called sin (“Summary History of the Bible”). The Torah is also deemed holy.
For this reason then, it is little wonder that ‘The Septuagint’ or the Hebrew Torah as translated into Greek, functioned as a kind of holy handbook for principles and rules for living among the early Jews. The other ideas in common with Bible beliefs is in the eternality of the human soul, and also in sharing with the Quran belief that there is a final Judgment Day to face. But not all Jews believe the same, either. Chinitz argues over Torah issues of the usage of “10 terms” (114). At this point it is crucial to remind the reader, various factions and offshoots from each of these religious books may have slightly differing opinions. However, the basics stand firm. If God exists then why is there a need to have these three different books, in the first place? If God is real – which is doubtful – then maybe he is permitting the infusion of these religious books into the world to manipulate, or control humankind. Some arguments against atheism perform reasonably well.
For instance, one proponent of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and holding the Bible as the ultimate holy truth debated others in a classroom setting. Eric Hovind argues that logically nobody is qualified to step outside of their limited perception. Hovind argues “Without appealing to an ultimate authority, outside of yourself, you’re stuck in an inconsistent, illogical worldview. Ladies and gentlemen God not only died to save our soulsit is unreasonable to say we don’t know anything” (“Eric Hovind – Argument against Atheism”). Another popular argument against atheism asks the unbeliever: “Are you absolutely sure, there is no God?” To which the Bible believer may reply that such a statement demonstrates an absolute belief, when atheists claim there are no absolute beliefs which may be valid. Some would argue, that a distinct difference between ‘God’s existence’ and ‘religion’ are fundamentally ill-conceived comparisons.
However, given all the turmoil in the modern world, lots of people accept that the Bible has been used to control or even torment people. It is no secret that white American slaveholders used the Bible to control the blacks, and tried to make them feel docile. Rules from the Bible has modeled constraints upon human beings’ choice of sexuality and imposing other rules to bear on an unwitting populace. What if a homeless mother has to steal food, or prostitute herself to feed her children? How can this be immoral? The Bible, or many versions of it have updated or changed from the so-called original texts. Why? And believers in the Quran do not all agree about ‘Sharia Law,’ a sharply harsh and merciless form of punitive laws – many of which end up blooding or killing violators. Scientific proof only points to evolution as a cause for universal existences. Will the real God stand up? At the end of the day, God might be real but religion prods the masses into a controlled stupor.
Works Cited
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“A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam – Some Basic Islamic Beliefs.”
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Chinitz, Jacob. “Ten Terms in the Torah for Teachings, Commandments and Laws.”
Jewish Bible Quarterly 33.2 (2005): 113-119. Academic Search Complete.
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Gymfilm Production. “Eric Hovind – Best Argument against Atheism – GYMFilm.”
Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 29 Nov. 2012. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.
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