Islam Rediscovered
2. Faith and Reason
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valid as direct argument. That is, if a cause
consistently gives rise to an effect, the existence of
the intangible cause will be accepted as a proven
fact, just as the existence of the tangible effect is
accepted because it is observable. In modern times
all the concepts of science held to be established
have been proven by this very logic.
After reaching this stage of rational argument the
difference between religious argument and scientific
argument ceases to exist. The problem faced earlier
was that religious realities, such as the existence of
God, could be proved only by inference or indirect
argument. For instance, the existence of God, as a
designer (cause) was presumed to exist because His
design (effect) could be seen to exist. But now the
same method of indirect argument has been
generally held to be valid in the world of science.
There are numerous meaningful things in the
universe which are brought to the knowledge of
human beings, for which no explanation is possible.
It has simply to be accepted that there is a
meaningful Cause, that is God. The truth is that,
without belief in God, the universe remains as
