✿ Introduction to Religious Believers and Atheists & Their Fundamental Differences
✍ Authored by: Faisal Riaz Shahid
❖ Preliminaries Before Dialogue with Atheists
Before engaging in dialogue with atheists, it is essential to understand who they are and what their beliefs entail. Just as followers of various religions—Christians, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, etc.—adhere to specific doctrines, rituals, and worldviews, atheists also represent a distinct group. However, they possess no belief in any religion or the unseen.
◈ Who Are Religious Believers?
① Religious believers are those who have faith in the unseen, whether they believe in one God or millions of deities.
② Their beliefs include concepts such as revelation, the Hereafter, Paradise, Hell, angels, and spiritual realities.
③ Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and followers of other religions fall under the category of religious believers.
◈ Who Are Atheists?
① Atheists are those who do not believe in the unseen, any religion, or spiritual realities.
② To them, all religions are false and baseless stories.
③ They accept only science and sensory experience as truth and center their “devotion” around it.
④ Atheists are referred to by various terms such as: Atheist, Agnostic, Skeptic, Materialist, etc.
✔ Fundamental Difference: Acceptance vs. Rejection of Revelation
The most critical difference between religious believers and atheists lies in belief in revelation:
◈ Religious believers affirm that God sent down revelation for the guidance of humanity, such as the Qur’an.
◈ Atheists consider “revelation” nothing more than myth and reject it.
◈ This core difference forms the basis for most of the objections raised by atheists.
❖ Key Principles for Dialogue with Atheists
① Knowledge and Preparation
- Clearly define both your intellectual standpoint and that of the atheist before initiating a dialogue.
- Acquire proficiency in core Islamic sciences such as Usul al-Tafsir, Usul al-Hadith, Usul al-Fiqh, Arabic language, and history.
- Study atheist ideologies, their historical background, and intellectual trends.
② Understanding Philosophy and Modern Ideologies
- Comprehend modern worldviews such as Humanism, Secularism, Liberalism, and Capitalism.
- Develop command over philosophical concepts, Ilm al-Kalam, and scientific theories like the Big Bang and the Theory of Evolution.
③ Logic and Reasoning
- Learn logical principles and how to refute fallacies in atheist arguments.
- Present your viewpoint with reasoning and wisdom.
④ Etiquette of Dialogue
- Always engage in discussions with politeness and respectful conduct.
- Ask questions about the atheist’s beliefs and doctrines.
- Keep the conversation focused on a single topic and do not allow it to digress.
⑤ Acknowledging Limits of Knowledge
- If you don’t know the answer to a question, admit it and seek guidance from qualified scholars.
- Present the answers of scholars in a fresh and comprehensible manner.
⑥ Addressing Atheist Objections
- Atheist objections often echo those raised by Orientalists.
- Responses to these objections already exist—memorize and present them appropriately.
⑦ Focusing on Critical Questions
Engage in discussions centered around fundamental inquiries such as:
- What is knowledge?
- What are the sources of knowledge?
- Can revelation be accepted as a valid source of knowledge?
- What are the limits of reason and metaphysics?
❀ Essential Guidelines
- Understand and concentrate on fundamental differences.
- Read authentic books to refute atheist objections effectively.
- To strengthen your faith, attend gatherings of the pious and seek help from Allah.
✦ Summary
The differences between religious believers and atheists are not new; they have been debated for centuries in the realms of philosophy and Ilm al-Kalam. Those engaging with this topic should do so with knowledge and wisdom and pray to Allah for His assistance.
