6876 —הוכחות מדעיות וקיום הבורא

B"H, 25 Iyar, 5719. Brooklyn.

Mr. Yitzchak Damiel.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

I acknowledge receipt of your letter along with the question from the group of young men and women, and I ask their forgiveness for my delayed response due to many preoccupations, especially during the weeks before and after Pesach. Clearly, regarding the essence of your question, it is impossible to answer comprehensively in a letter; therefore, I must limit my response to several main points. However, I hope that some points in my letter will add clarification from my perspective based on what is explained in our Torah, especially in Chassidic works. It is also understood that if there are places or points in my letter not fully clarified, I am always ready to answer further questions or even objections and contradictions, and I will try to respond as best as I can.

In response to the question: "Is there a way for us, as skeptics, to ascertain the truth of G‑d's existence—clearly, without any doubts or possibility for doubt?" In general, there are questions that seem simple and deal with simple matters and are thus phrased in ordinary language; yet precisely such questions require extra care and precise definitions. Especially with a question discussed by many over hundreds and thousands of years in various circles—it is impossible for all to mean exactly the same thing in every detail. Therefore, one who asks such a question must clarify his intent and define his terms. Similarly regarding your question—seeking proof for G‑d's existence—the terms "existence" and "proof," especially regarding something that exists, are vague precisely because they are used so widely—from a small child to an exacting scientist; yet you did not clarify your intent here.

To explain further: Some say that for a child "existence" or proof thereof is only something he can touch with his hands. For a blind person, for example, colors do not exist at all for him; he must rely on someone else who says he sees colors and shades. On a more advanced level: everyone agrees absolutely that every action requires an existing cause or source; thus when we see actions they are absolute proof of an active force—even if this is not direct proof and seemingly leaves room for doubt. A prominent example is electricity: man has senses—sight confirms color exists just as hearing confirms sound—but we have no sense to "see" electricity itself; only when we see its effects (a wire glowing or an electric meter moving) do we conclude there is such a force called electricity—which we will never see—and it causes these effects. This too is considered absolute proof. Similarly with magnetism.

I chose this example because electricity's existence is so accepted without any doubt whatsoever. Moreover: on an even higher level it is now accepted as absolute truth—based on the premise that every action has an actor—that something may exist even if it contradicts logic! For example: gravity—the proof being movement of physical objects whose cause cannot be seen; thus we accept gravity's existence even though action at a distance without any intermediary makes no sense logically. But since this idea was learned from childhood and repeated in textbooks until it became "simple," above all doubt or skepticism—the attempt to explain gravity via the subtle material called ether required so many contradictory properties that it was even more absurd than accepting action at a distance without intermediaries—if such an absurdity exists.

I do not know which branch of science these young men and women study or whether they deal with what are called exact sciences. But specifically in these fields recently another phenomenon has arisen which is completely incomprehensible logically yet has been accepted by all scientists as reality—and almost by the public too—that matter is merely a special form of energy and matter can be converted into energy and vice versa—a concept totally illogical! Yet since certain effects are observed which cannot otherwise be explained unless one accepts this premise—it has become accepted scientific proof almost everywhere as clear evidence beyond any doubt or possibility thereof (as per your question), even though logically it is utterly absurd.

Since your question did not define what you would accept as proof for G‑d's existence clearly without doubts etc., I assume you would accept the same type of proof you use in daily life conduct. From this standpoint it follows there is such proof for the Creator's existence—and indeed several proofs—and as above it does not matter if one must say this reality cannot be grasped intellectually or even contradicts logic—for as stated everyone accepts phenomena whose explanation defies logic simply because they wish to explain what happens around them; logic does not determine anything here.

The method of proof here follows those used in exact sciences—or even more so—the proofs upon which our daily lives depend! Anyone who observes his own actions at home or on the road admits unashamedly that he does not demand personal verification for every act but accepts others' testimony who have checked things out—unless there is suspicion their testimony may be false or influenced by internal/external factors or insanity etc., then more witnesses are required. The more numerous and diverse the witnesses (in status/background), reducing chances of error/conspiracy etc., so much stronger becomes the scientific/absolute proof—and based on this individuals/society act regularly with complete confidence in its truth.

So too here: The giving of Torah at Sinai was confirmed generation after generation as an event witnessed by 600,000 adult males alone—not counting children—and including women/elders means several million exodus participants saw it themselves—not via others' reports! This was not limited testimony from one prophet/dreamer/small group but passed down father-to-son generation after generation—with no break ever nor reduction below 600,000+ witnesses (all with differing perspectives etc.), even after dispersal worldwide all versions received about this historic event match exactly in every detail! Is there any testimony more reliable/precise than this?

A second type of proof—also based on the above premise—is when one sees an organized system composed of many coordinated parts lacking control over each other yet perfectly synchronized; one confidently concludes there must be an external force uniting them all—and since He unites/controls them He must be greater/more powerful than they are! For example: entering a factory running automatically with no visible human presence—no one would ever doubt (without hesitation) that somewhere there is a master mechanic overseeing all machines/parts controlling/unifying them together! In fact—the less human intervention/the more automatic—the greater one's awe at the mechanic's genius!

If so regarding factories involving hundreds/thousands/even tens-of-thousands parts—how much more so when contemplating our world—a lump of wood/stone/plant/animal—not to mention human anatomy—as Scripture says mi-besari echezeh ("From my flesh I behold")—especially according to modern science which teaches everything consists of billions of atoms each with many smaller components—which should logically result in utter chaos/disorder yet instead we observe wondrous order/harmony between smallest/largest parts—and between microcosm/macroscosm etc.—it becomes absolutely clear beyond any shadow of doubt there must be a responsible "mechanic."

It goes without saying I am aware of the familiar phrase that everything operates according to "natural law." But it's unnecessary to stress this phrase explains nothing—it merely conveniently describes how things happen—that nature operates according to certain patterns—but claiming "natural law" exists independently controlling all creation (with thousands such laws)—is utter absurdity! No scientist working in these fields would claim otherwise; it's just convenient shorthand rather than repeating lengthy descriptions at every step—but certainly provides no explanation whatsoever.

Essentially—as stated—I assume you seek proofs upon which people base practical life decisions—and these proofs are far stronger than those relied upon daily! What could be simpler: when going to sleep at night people prepare everything for waking up—even though there's no logical reason why tomorrow morning the sun should rise again/nature continue unchanged—but since things have always gone this way people trust these "laws" will rule tomorrow too—and based on this trust make efforts/preparations for tomorrow's conduct—which has no rational basis unless there is an owner/master over this world!

As above—I could elaborate further but hope what I've written suffices for reflection/conclusion—that those who say they need proofs for G‑d's existence while considering creation itself above all doubt are mistaken—for actually recent scientific findings about creation raise ever-greater doubts especially given growing contradictions between different sciences plus fundamental uncertainty whether our impressions via senses/mind correspond at all to anything outside ourselves! But regarding G‑d—or rather—the active force behind creation—it makes no difference whether anything exists outside us or only impressions within us—for basic human reason dictates (and upon which life depends) that everything known must have some internal/external cause acting upon it!

One final note: It often happens people find it hard to accept simple proofs precisely because they are simple—but I hope this does not apply here—for such hesitation isn't rational nor does it affect actual behavior—as experience shows! One foundation of our faith in Creator/Giver-of-Torah/Sinai event/mitzvos—is that action counts most!

I would appreciate hearing your reactions on all this—as mentioned previously—I hope you feel completely free expressing disagreement where applicable.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that standards used daily—even by scientists—to accept unseen realities apply equally when considering belief in G‑d. Logical reasoning from observed order and reliable historical transmission both affirm faith’s rational foundation; ultimately, practical action remains central.