Five Questions For The Skeptic Of The Spiritual Science

“Disparity in human society is due to lack of principles in a godless civilization. There is God, or the Almighty One, from whom everything emanates, by whom everything is maintained and in whom everything is merged to rest. Material science has tried to find the ultimate source of creation very insufficiently, but it is a fact that there is one ultimate source of everything that be. This ultimate source is explained rationally and authoritatively in the beautiful Bhagavatam, or Shrimad-Bhagavatam.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, Introduction)

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We take the premise of a hypothetical conversation between friends. One person is a true believer. Not only is there faith and allegiance, but they can support their positions with philosophical understanding, logical reasoning, and a general responsiveness to any inquiry directed their way. Whether from a supporting or challenging mood, this person is ready to respond, backed up by the spiritual science presented in the Vedic tradition.

The second person is skeptical. They relegate religion to make-believe, fairytales, and mythology. Sort of like that magician hosting a televised special, the prominent figures worshiped in various traditions throughout time are merely extraordinary beings. There is no Divine aspect to them.

The first person has a series of questions in response. They are particularly intrigued by the idea that everything came together randomly. The skeptical friend says that there is no intelligence within this world, that everything is random. The believer asks the skeptic to at least resolve a few inconsistencies first.

1. How do you explain seasons?

“I am your friend, after all. I would rather we be in agreement on an important issue like this. Every other experience will be a derivative of this decision. It is like casting the vote to determine the winner in an election. If we end up on opposing sides, how will we get to spend time together?

“I would like to attribute this entire life experience to randomness. That would make it a lot easier to continue. I would not have to think too deeply about why things happen. Just let it flow. Be similar to the animals, in that regard.

“The thing I cannot get over is nature. More specifically, certain aspects are impossible to explain. For instance, the seasons. As I look out the window right now, the leaves are bare. It is cold. This is only in comparison to what the weather was like a few months ago.

“After some time, the leaves will return. Everyone knows this. Only a fool would refuse to believe. The cycle of life related to the trees has been a time-honored way of explaining so many aspects of the living experience. In the Ramayana, for instance, we have the comparison to trees to explain how and why certain people don’t receive punishment for their bad deeds until a later time.

अवश्यं लभते जन्तुः फलं पापस्य कर्मणः।
घोरं पर्यागते काले द्रुमाः पुष्पमिवार्तवम्।।

avaśyaṃ labhate jantuḥ phalaṃ pāpasya karmaṇaḥ।
ghoraṃ paryāgate kāle drumāḥ puṣpamivārtavam।।

“Just as a tree starts to blossom during the proper season, so the doer of sinful deeds inevitably reaps the horrible fruit of their actions at the appropriate time.” (Lord Rama speaking to Khara, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 29.8)

“How do you explain the seasons? There is nothing random about them. There is intelligence everywhere. Who configured the cycle? Why is it based on a predictable timeline? Why can’t the same randomness destroy the configuration? Why can’t we keep one season throughout the year?”

2. How do you explain birth?

“Alright, I am assuming you attribute birth to randomness, as well. A person coming out of nowhere. Okay, but then why does not that happen all the time? Why is there a specific sequence of events?

“Moreover, why is not the same person born every time? If it is a random collision of chemicals that produces life, why is not the same life produced every single time? From where does such an amazing being come? You and I have the same source, in this regard. Why are we different, then? Why do we not believe the same things?”

3. How do you explain the sun?

“Revisiting nature for a moment, why is there one object which stands in stark contrast to the others? It is indeed the source of contrast, since it creates light. The sunlight and the shadow. Day and night. Many Sanskrit words for the sun translate directly to ‘maker of the day.’

“Why is only one object responsible for this? Randomness could never explain the presence of the sun. There has to be some intelligence involved. If the sun ever fell out of the sky, we would be finished. Life would cease to exist.”

4. How do you explain plant life?

“Have you ever seen these seeds inside of fruits? Some are massive, while some are small. How do you get that giant fruit-producing tree from one of these seeds? It makes no sense. There has to be some configuration.

“Why does one seed produce a particular tree, while a different seed makes something else? Sometimes, the seeds look identical. You would not know what is what only by looking. But the end result is vastly different. Apples and oranges, if you know what I mean.”

5. How do you explain the ability to question?

“If everything is random, how are we able to have this discussion? Why cannot the dogs have the same? Why do not the birds ponder the meaning to existence? If everything was based on randomness, you would surely find a few tigers who could quote from shastra. You would have human beings who could fly in the air.”

…

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada compares such study to a technology. More specifically, a person should be interested in studying the technology between life and death. Refining the problem scope even further, there should be inquiry into the difference between a living body and a dead one.

This can never be explained by randomness precisely because the dead body might be practically identical to the living body in appearance. All factors are the same. Everything is there, except for one vital component.

That missing piece is the soul. This soul is the basis of genuine religion. It is the foundation upon which a person separates from the animal community. The human being takes on its true value when it studies the soul. This study involves the origin, the present state, and the future travels.

This study can only lead to one place. Vedic culture is like the descending process. Passing down the Absolute Truth from the original, trusted source. We accept the information from authority, but we are not limited in our understanding. We can question as much as we wish. We can compare and contrast, deliberate, and then further appreciate everything given to us. This is the potency of dharma.

In Closing:

If skeptical of God to be,
Then out the window see.

How trees suddenly bare,
When leaves recently there.

Emerging from a single seed,
But distinct each one indeed.

The soul the variable factor involved,
Knowledge around this revolved.