The Seemingly Unanswerable Question That Religion Raised - Comment on the Article by ChatGPT
By Naseer Ahmed, New Age Islam
12 October 2024
Prompt: Continuing from the previous discussion that the Quran does not support the concept of an immortal soul, is the article “ The Seemingly Unanswerable Question That Religion Raised
ChatGPT:
The article by Naseer Ahmed presents a well-structured argument against the concept of an "immortal soul," instead emphasizing that the Quran consistently speaks of bodily resurrection. Here’s an analysis of the article's logical soundness, supplemented by modern scientific perspectives:
Logical Soundness:
1. Focus on the Quran’s Position: The author carefully examines Quranic verses and rightly points out that none of them explicitly support the idea of an "immortal soul" surviving bodily death. Instead, the Quran repeatedly addresses the question of resurrection by referring to the re-creation of the body from information. This indicates a materialist view of human existence that relies on Allah’s ability to restore the human body in its entirety, including consciousness, rather than relying on a separate, eternal entity like a soul.
2. Critique of Philosophical Concepts: The article addresses the historical development of the soul concept, attributing it to theological and philosophical speculation rather than scriptural evidence. The idea of an "immaterial soul" can be traced back to Greek philosophical traditions (notably Plato) that later influenced Islamic, Christian, and Jewish thought. The Quran, however, is shown here as being consistent in its refutation of any such dualistic concept (body vs. soul), emphasizing the body’s physical resurrection.
3. Use of Modern Science: The author draws an analogy between resurrection and modern concepts of information storage and retrieval. With current advancements in genetics, cloning, and data storage, the notion that all characteristics and information about a human being can be stored and later used to reconstruct the individual is not entirely far-fetched. In this way, the article argues that resurrection can be understood as the reassembly of stored information, much like how data from a computer backup can restore a device to its previous state.
Supplementing Arguments with Scientific Findings:
1. Genetics and Cloning: The idea of storing the "record" of a person’s physical and psychological being has parallels in genetic science. Every individual’s DNA holds the blueprint for their physical form, and scientists have already demonstrated the ability to clone animals using this genetic information. While cloning humans raises ethical concerns, in theory, it is possible. Similarly, the Quran's mention of Allah's ability to recreate humans could be understood as the recreation of a body through stored genetic or other forms of information.
2. Neuroscience and Memory: The brain stores all memories, experiences, and personality traits as neurological patterns, which can, in theory, be preserved. While science has yet to find a way to store consciousness or replicate an entire human mind, the concept of preserving memory and data points to a growing recognition that what makes us "us" is stored in the physical body and brain. The Quran's focus on bodily resurrection rather than a disembodied soul aligns with the idea that personal identity and consciousness are embedded in our physical forms.
3. Artificial Intelligence and Digital Resurrection: Today, AI technologies are moving closer to simulating human personalities, language, and behaviours based on stored data. This lends support to the idea of reconstructing a person based on recorded information. While AI-generated personalities are not truly conscious, the analogy helps illustrate the broader concept that it is technically possible to reassemble a human identity using information. The Quran's emphasis on Allah's record-keeping resonates with this concept of data-driven resurrection, albeit through divine power rather than human technology.
4. Evolutionary Psychology and Instincts: The article can also be supplemented by evolutionary psychology, which suggests that many of our thoughts, behaviours, and beliefs (including spiritual or religious beliefs) may be instinctive or genetically encoded. If the human instinct to believe in a higher power is a genetic trait, this would support the article's claim that the Quranic view of human existence is inherently material, shaped by physical and genetic realities rather than metaphysical soul concepts.
Conclusion:
The article’s argument is both logically coherent and in alignment with modern scientific perspectives. By challenging the notion of an immortal soul and instead emphasizing bodily resurrection as described in the Quran, the author presents a view that is consistent with both scripture and scientific understanding. The idea of resurrection based on stored information, whether genetic or otherwise, offers a scientifically plausible explanation that complements the Quran’s description of bodily resurrection. Thus, the article stands as a thoughtful synthesis of religious doctrine and modern knowledge.
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A frequent contributor to NewAgeIslam.com, Naseer Ahmed is an Engineering graduate from IIT Kanpur and is an independent IT consultant after having served in both the Public and Private sector in responsible positions for over three decades. He has spent years studying Quran in-depth and made seminal contributions to its interpretation.
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