Faith is something which is often misunderstood. By the way, do not be fooled by the image that this is a “modern” issue - people rejected the Prophets from the beginning of time, yes, even the illiterate, “unevolved” peoples of the past. The reasons may change but the reactions don’t.

Today people often ask you to “prove” that God exists. You can tell them that you cannot and that they should prove He does not exist. The fact is, no one can prove either side in this question (although foolish people on both sides sometimes think they have). The existence of God is a matter of faith. While it is true that belief in God cannot be ILLOGICAL or INCOHERENT (self-contradicting), people on both sides of the issue of theism in fact have “faith”. One has faith God exists, the other has faith he does not. The atheist often claims his viewpoint is the “default” viewpoint - that he should not believe in God until he is shown that God exists, and to an extent he is correct.

The point where he is incorrect is to think (again, like many theists) that belief in God is a logical point (aside from the stipulation, like any in life, that it is within the realm of possibility). What most people nowadays have forgotten is that the universe, everything in existence, is not approachable by one method alone. A classic example of this is love. Certainly love is something that cannot be bound by rules - it cannot be seen, it cannot be dictated. One does not approach love scientifically (and if one did, one would indeed be a nerd) for it simply does not fall into that realm of study.

Similarly faith is something that is not definitive - it is possible not to believe. If it were the case that it was possible for either party to “prove” their assertions about God, believe me, you would own a copy of it for $9.99. Faith is something based not upon proof but upon signs.

Some of the signs that the assertion of those who say that the universe is a complete accident, that it is impersonal (unguided), detached, purposeless, etc. are:

1. The fact that we tend to personify nature - we marvel at “Nature’s” efficiency, ingenuity, etc.

2. The fact that we wonder where we came from (why not just find ourselves alive, struggle as animals to survive, and perish). Who cares how we got here? It doesn’t benefit us technically or materially.

3. The fact that we wonder what is the “purpose of life”. None, you idiot, none. Now try to get as much pleasure as possible or if you suffer a moment of pain, exterminate yourself and you shall find relief.

4. The fact that we feel “awed” by nature - why look at a tree, one of the most “boring”, plentiful things on the planet, or the moon, a mere “rock”, and feel awed and moved to tears?

Now, I want to make a note about “humanism”, sometimes called “secular humanism”, or as one guy explained it, “belief in science” (which I found quite funny since I also have a “belief in science”). Forget about the fact that it does not adequately address many of the above points, but can you not see that the very existence of such a philosophy is precisely due to the fact that there is a human NEED to have a “purpose” (again, pointless from a biological point of view - you need not be conscious of your purpose), to say “Here is what life is all about!”. I suppose someone asked a humanist “Oh, yeah, you have a better idea?” Guess what - if you believe in the philosophy of “humanism” you may as well have a religion, which also provides answers and guidance on life (albeit, you may have less fun and be far less stylish). So the atheist by in large falls into his own trap - his actions show that indeed he does not believe the default viewpoint is absolute, stark reality. Which is fine - after all, he is only human.

Just remember that life is expansive - science asks the question “how” - through it we advance medically and technologically. Religion (or the lack thereof) asks the question “why”. Neither by itself explains all of existence sufficiently. And of course, there may be even more to life than the apple and the orange. It is a humbling thought.

1. What does it mean to be Shi’a?

Shi’as are basically people who say they are “Shi’atu ‘Alee”, or “The Party of ‘Ali”. ‘Ali was the paternal cousin of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. He was also his son-in-law and was basically the link to the only living male heirs of the Prophet (his own sons died while still infants). ‘Ali’s sons were Al Hasan and Al Hussain - these were the grandsons of the Prophet (through his very beloved daughter Fatima).

There are many speculations about where Shi’as “came from”, meaning some say it was a conspiracy by outsiders to split the Muslims, etc. but I will leave those aside as they simply go into disputed territory.

2. What does it mean to be a Sunni Muslim?

In the history of Islam, obviously, no one said they were “Sunni” Muslims. After the Shi’a emerged, it was necessary to differentiate that you were not a Shi’a - that you were “Sunni”, which simply meant you followed the “Sunnah” or practice of the Prophet - basically default Islam.

3. What are the differences between Shia & Sunni Muslims?

In general, you should know that the Shi’a are a wide range of people - some merely felt that ‘Ali had some precedence in the political authority given due to Islam’s emphasis on revering “Ahl ul Bayt”, or the “Family of the Prophet”. For this, they contend with the fact that the first Caliphs of Islam were in order, the best friend of the Prophet - Abu Bakr, then one of the most powerful aids to Islam, ‘Umar, then ‘Uthman, the Prophet’s other son-in-law, and then finally ‘Ali. Other Shi’as are so extreme as to say that Gabriel made a mistake and delivered the revelation to Muhammad when it should have been ‘Ali. They are considered outside of the fold of Islam.

As for the Shi’a as a modern demographic, they cover about 10% of the Muslim population and are largely located in Iran and Iraq, although there are some strongholds in Pakistan and other locations. They have some of their own ceremonies regarding prayer, but mostly it is their devotion to “Ahl ul Bayt”, especially ‘Ali, Imam Hussain and Imam Hasan, Fatima herself, etc. Some of them have intense commemorations of the death of Imam Hussain, flagellating themselves to relive his pain. They also tend to believe in the Imamate - the spiritual leader who they hold as the infallible authority on earth. In jurisprudence, or “fiqh”, or Islamic Law, they follow the Ja’fari madhab.

Question: Why would God create us with questioning minds and then punish us for disbelief?

Basically, you are not punished for questioning religion or God etc. But you should not forget what religion is - as most people have nowadays. It is not science, it is not business, it is not marriage. It, just as each of the things I just listed, is unique and has unique functionality.

Religion is the realm of the soul - and deals with guidance and misguidance. Now no one can “see” guidance on someone else, nor is it effective simply to tell someone “you are misguided!” since obviously the person may not feel they are. So in the end, it is about your heart - and its being drawn to God or not. So “belief” is not science - it only exists with the opposite quality of doubt.

For example, do you know 100% that someone you love will not betray you? Of course not - because it’s POSSIBLE, right? Yet somehow you trust certain people - this is FAITH in them. So the same way the believer doesn’t get absolute proofs, but signs.

One of the signs to me of God is that we question at all. If all that is in this world is physical phenomenon such as biology and mathematics, why do we sit around going, “hmmm, was i meant to do that?” or “what is the meaning of life” etc. To me this is a sign that there is more to our existence than the physical world.

But again, I cannot make you believe, and God did not force you to believe. If you are sincere, go on and question as much as you please - for you are simply trying to find the Truth. If the Prophets hadn’t questioned, they would simply be blind worshippers of their forefathers as everyone around them was!

And may God guide you.