Gnostic Atheism: The Knowledge That There Is No God

We do not need to search the universe to prove that there is no god in particular or no supernatural in general, because there is precisely nothing to search for

In 1905, Albert Einstein proved that E = mc2. The m stands for the inertial mass, which is resistance to acceleration. Resistance to acceleration is the signature of the physical. E = mc2 means that all energy is physical. 

If X does not have a physical analog, then X is not real. Abstract objects, such as the number 7 or a mathematical triangle, do not have a physical analog. 

They are therefore not real. There is no physical analog of a mathematical triangle with lines that have zero height and width and points that have zero height, length, and width.

Abstract objects are fictional models that we make up. Fictions only exist as an energy state or computational state in a computational device such as the brain. 

What about space and time? In relativity theory, space and time are one thing: spacetime. According to the general theory of relativity, there is something called frame dragging. 

A spherical object—such as the Earth—turning in space-time encounters a small resistance to acceleration. 

This resistance to acceleration has been measured in several ways, including by satellite. This means that space-time itself exhibits resistance to acceleration and is therefore physical. 

According to quantum mechanics, spacetime is physical. Heisenberg’s Principle of Uncertainty for momentum and position in conjunction with Heisenberg’s Principle of Uncertainty for energy and time means that every point in space-time has a nonzero energy and momentum. 

According to both relativity and quantum mechanics, then, space-time is a physical thing. Assume there is “object” 1 and “object” 2, and that 1 has resistance to acceleration and 2 does not. 

Assume 1 and 2 “move” toward each other. Object 1 passes through 2 without hesitation as though 2 were nothing— because 2 is nothing, nonexistent.

To not have at least some resistance to acceleration is to be nothingness, nonexistent. That is, to be nonphysical, or immaterial, is to be nothingness, nonexistent. 

A particle of light, a photon, is sometimes said to be without mass. A photon has no rest mass because it is never at rest; however, photons do have motion mass. Photons exert pressure upon the surfaces that they strike. They resist acceleration and are therefore physical.

The natural is space, time, physical, material, and corporeal. The supernatural is not natural. The supernatural is the negation of the natural. 

The supernatural is spaceless (existing at no location), timeless (existing at no time), nonphysical (completely empty), immaterial (completely empty), and incorporeal (bodiless). 

Nonexistence is spaceless, timeless, nonphysical, immaterial, and incorporeal. There is no difference between the supernatural and nonexistence. Therefore, the supernatural is precisely equal to nonexistence. The natural is equal to existence. 

“Supernatural” and “existence” are mutually exclusive. “Supernatural existence” is a contradiction in terms. A contradiction is a condition that is always false (i.e., inaccurate and/or unreliable). A supernatural existence is like a three-angled square in Euclidean geometry. 

It is always true (i.e., totally accurate and totally reliable) that there is no supernatural existence. Supernaturalism is always false because it asserts that there is supernatural existence. Naturalism is the idea that there is only natural existence. 

The natural is equal to all existence. Nature is equal to all existence. Nature is equivalent to reality. Naturalism is always true because naturalism and supernaturalism are mutually exclusive and exhaustive (i.e., cover all logical possibilities), and supernaturalism is always false. There is no logical alternative to naturalism being true. 

We do not need to search the universe to prove that there is no god in particular or no supernatural in general, because there is precisely nothing to search for. Gnostic in this context means knowledge by means of facts and reason alone. 

It is known with total accuracy and total reliability, by means of facts and reason alone, that there is no supernatural existence. Gods and devils are supernatural existences. 

It is known with total accuracy and total reliability, by means of facts and reason alone, that there are no gods and no devils. Gnostic Atheism is always true. 

Top theologians in the world define their particular god as being spaceless, timeless, nonphysical, immaterial, and incorporeal. Gods and devils, including Allah, Jesus, and Satan, are fictional characters that people make up by the thousands, like Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny. 

Just as surely as Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny are fictional, gods and devils are fictional. To claim that it cannot be known that gods and devils are fictional is like claiming that it cannot be known that Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny are fictional. 

To claim that it is uncertain that gods and devils are fictional is like claiming that it is uncertain that Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny are fictional. To say that one needs faith that gods and devils are fictional is like saying that one needs faith that Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny are fictional.

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By Paul Keller

Keller has degrees in social science, psychology, philosophy, and electronics. He is currently pursuing a bachelor of science degree in management and applied mathematics. He lives in Menomonie, Wisconsin, and can be reached at kellerp@my.uwstout.edu. 

This article first appeared in The American Rationalist (March/April 2012), second at American Atheists magazine fourth quarter 2012, and appears here courtesy of the editor.

References

Alston, W.P. Perceiving God: The Epistemology of Religious Experience. (Ithaca: We do not need to search the universe to prove that there is no god in particular or no supernatural in general, because there is precisely nothing to search for. Cornell University Press, 1991).

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