Image Source: Wired New York
“The roof (Guggenheim Museum) was made of glass so that the god could see the paintings from up in heaven.” – When In Rome (Movie)
Image Source: Assabile
This reminds me of Yusof Islam, also known as Cat Steven most notable for his song – “The First Cut is the Deepest“. His journey towards embracing Islam:
While on holiday in Marrakech, Morocco, shortly after visiting Ibiza, Stevens was intrigued by the sound of the Aḏhān, the Islamic ritual call to prayer, which was explained to him as “music for God”. Stevens said, “I thought, music for God? I’d never heard that before – I’d heard of music for money, music for fame, music for personal power, but music for God!” – Cat Steven – Wikipedia
I love the idea of ‘Music for God’. I think the concept is the same for Judaism, am not so sure about Christianity, do Christians actually sing for God? I guess when you throw in God into any equation, it simply defy logic, then again, it might enhance logic. Depending on how you perceive it.
Are you an atheist? You’ll love Richard Dawkins’ book – The God Delusion. He is famous for his quote:
“When one person suffers from a delusion it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called religion.”
YouTube him for his videos, see how he debates with Christians, Jews, Muslims and etc.
To me the existence of God is illogical, if God created man, who created God? If God can exist without a creator, so can man and all living things exist without a creator. Don’t justify the answer with it has to be God because he is the man. It is like someone asking for the time and the person goes on describing the design of the clock. The question is Who, not Why or Because.
Atheism in Arquitecture is something that im hoping to see. Actualy there isnt even any skepticism or criticism in blogs. Thats why I like so much your blog, just the amount of comedy + Architecture.
Are you an Atheist??
112.001 Say: He is Allah, the One and Only;
112.002 Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
112.003 He begetteth not, nor is He begotten;
112.004 And there is none like unto Him.
Al-Qur’an,(Al-Ikhlas [Sincerity])
If you try to understant you will inshallah get the clear image of God. the God which the islam says about. The question is who means, who created earth, who created the moon, sun, stars all those galaxyes…. there is lot to write if some one has heart to beleave….
thanks for the post
@Tanveer
If you’re borned in 200BC, you’ll probably say the same thing about Zeus or Apollo – that they are the one and only. Islam is the true religion to you because you’ve been told so, same goes to all the other religion in the world.
@Anonymous
Not really an atheist. I don’t believe that the path to heaven lies on which religion you’re affiliated to, ironically it doesn’t matter all the good or bad deeds you’ve done while on earth, as long as you believe in him or perform something or avoid eating something, you’re somehow guaranteed a slot in heaven. Heaven is like an exclusive club, not a place for good people.
Baha’i View – most logical even if you are not spiritually minded: In this world of creation there are many levels of creation- Mineral, Vegetable – Animal and Man,Each higher kingdom presents capacities that lower kingdoms are incapable of understanding The lower created things do not have the capacity to comprehend the creatures of upper level ie a rock has no concept what a tree is – that does not mean tree does not exist, no matter how loudly rock shouts there is no such thing as a tree!
@Reza Rahmanian
In short, we human from the lower kingdom (as oppose to God’s kingdom) should have no capacity to understand the creator (higher kingdom)? Therefore man has no concept of what God is, no matter how loudly we the man shouts there is no such thing as God! By that definition, religion shouldn’t exist, even if it exist, it is man made fantasy?
p.s. It is like someone asking for the time and the person goes on describing the design of the clock. The question is WHO created god, not the hierarchy between man and God. Who as in an object? God’s father? an energy? a force? an atom? WHO?
cheers.
I am muslim. sorry for my little english.
I believe in one god who created all this universe, the earth and the skies, the day and the night,… but a belief – in islam- is not blindly without a proof, there is proofs if you want to know them. most of those questions have answers but not all of them. I don’t even know if it is the right place to tell more.
i don’t “think” there is a sort of religion in architecture (apart religious buildings of course). culture on the other hand is (should be) integrated in architecture and culture has many dimensions an architect should know. there is also majesty and nobleness in some buildings like the Guggenheim but it is for promoting the “spectacle” in architecture… otherwise, i’ll say that architecture could be integrated in religon ^^
Fanally, i’ll tell more even with my bad english. for those who want to know ^^.
In the name of god :
What is necessary to know is, that god is our creator! … and proofs are multiple. God said (in Coran): “And in the earth are portents for those whose faith is sure. (20) And (also) in yourselves. Can ye then not see? (21)” Adh-Dhariyat (20-21)
Who created god? …
To whom is the bachelor married? What is the color of music?
By definition god is the uncreated creator.
How do we know this? From the creator!
Allah said: : “Say: He is Allah, the One! (1) Allah, the eternally Besought of all! (2) He begetteth not nor was begotten. (3) And there is none comparable unto Him. (4) » Al Ikhlas.
How do we believe there is one?
A logical proof that “god” is the creator comes in what he said: “Or were they created out of naught? Or are they the creators? (35) » At-Tur (35). So, the human being didn’t create himself, because before him was naught and the naught is nothing and nothing can’t create something, he is not created by his father nor his mother nor by any creation. He also didn’t come by chance, because every action needs a “director” and because all these creations with an order as well established and a harmonious “interweaving”, totally ban the fact that it is fortuity. What is come by chance is already not on order when coming, how it could stay ordered as well during its existence and development. “the probability that the universe came by chance from the big bang is much less than a tornado, when passing by debris, produces a boeing 747”. It is stated, then, the existence of one creator and commander, it is called Allah in Islam. “Allah” said: « Lo! your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days, then mounted He the Throne. He covereth the night with the day, which is in haste to follow it, and hath made the sun and the moon and the stars subservient by His command. His verily is all creation and commandment. Blessed be Allah, the Lord of the Worlds! (54). Al-Araf (54).
How do we believe the creator said this? … Through prophets and miracles (those are facts, history confirms).
Do know that there is another historical proofs through nations which preceded and the miracles of prophets who existed. How, all prophets who existed, and “history” confirms they do, through thousands of years, conveyed the same message which is the belief in one unique god the creator of everything.
The last miracle is the book of Coran, a contemporary miracle… !
How a book can be a last miracle? …… scientific facts contained, “for example”, because I like science.
Here is some bad quality videos you can see, but you have to be patient ^^
Through miracles (also scientific ones), Prophets, Logic; one god exists, all religions are from “Allah”, and Islam is the message, which means “surrender to god”…
Why Allah? God is called Allah in islam.
Why Islam? There are answers… ^^
@Abdelatif
You’re quoting stuff written by man 1400 years ago. If it wasn’t for today’s modern thinking man, Aum Shinrikyo the Japanese Cult could probably be a prophet too. All prophets in the world are saints because people back then accepted things blindly, like how miracles used to exist 2000 years ago and not now, funny isn’t it?
If God is the uncreator, meaning to say he exist without a creator. By using the same theory, we human can exist without a creator too. If before him was naught, then by using the same theory, before man it was naught too, yes? Like you said, because every action needs a “director”, therefore, who is God’s director? In short, who is God’s God?
p.s Maybe all living things are collectively God, as in his/her soul or energy is distributed evenly among all living things.
Cheers ;)
Dear Sir / Madam,
Greetings in the name of our savior and Lord Jesus Christ, from His servant, Asphena Elizabeth Marriam from Pakistan.
Lord Jesus Christ you said to your Apostles, I leave you Peace, My Peace I give it to you ……….
The Peace of The Lord be with you….
Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations. Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
I am extremely overwhelmed in God to see your website and to come to know about your Ministry. I pray to God Almighty that more and more people may come to know Him and accept Lord Jesus as their savior, through your most noble evangelical service towards the mankind.
I too, as an evangelist and a servant of God in one way or the other am eager to join hands with your mission in proclaiming The Good News of God to the people still unreached, like in Pakistan, to The Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus etc.
That I accepted Lord Jesus Christ as my personal savior nine year ago when I was a young crusader with Holy Bible in my hands moving streets to streets proclaiming the Good News of God door to door, to the poor and rich alike, to Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus alike. By the great mercy of Our Savior Lord Jesus Christ I have saved scores of unguided people and with His mercy now they are believers and they are Christians now living meaningful lives. It is not easy and safe to evangelize Muslims in Pakistan though, I by the grace of God worked fearlessly and succeeded and am determined to go ahead against all odds. God is my savior and my protector. I shall not be harmed by any adversary. Lord Jesus Christ before His ascension into heaven commanded His apostles “Go and preach The Good News to all The Nations”
By associating myself with your noble Ministry I will acquire more wisdom and understanding of The Word of God .Besides I will be able in supporting my family especially providing my children with a good quality education so that they can become a responsible Christians in their future lives and on the platform of The Ministry of Christ, evangelize more and more people who don’t know Lord Jesus Christ and saving astray souls in Pakistan.
I have seen on your website that you have Gospel preaching in many languages including in Hindi the native language of India but to evangelize Muslims I strongly believe that you must also include the native language of Pakistan , Urdu besides Punjabi and Saraiki.
I am well versed with these languages spoken, written in Pakistan and am in a strong position to translate your message of God from English into Urdu, Punjabi and Saraiki so that the Muslims who speak, write and understand these languages can be benefited with The Word of God through you and can accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. I have always intended to save billion of misguided souls around the globe. Therefore it is our utmost responsibility as a disciple of Christ let them tell the truth about God. Those who understand the truth immediately embraces Christianity.
I therefore request you humbly in submission to God to post The Word of God in Urdu, Punjabi, Saraiki etc. so that more and more Muslims can take benefit from your Evangelical web site especially in Pakistan and for those who are living in various countries around the globe. As a translator of your ,messages the fund you will spend on translation will in turn be utilized in the work of God in Pakistan . More and more work is needed in Pakistan despite rampant persecution of Christians.
The Word of God and the Faith:
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth with without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And The Spirit of The God (Holy Spirit) moved upon the face of the waters. Genesis 1:1 & 2
In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word (Jesus) was with God (God The Father), and the Word was God. John 1:1
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrew 11:1
But without faith it is impossible to please Him (God): for him that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a redeemer of them that diligently seek him. Hebrew 11:6
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Hebrew 11:7
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go into a place ( Israel ) which he should after receive for an inheritance, Obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. Hebrew 11:8
About Pakistan :
Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a break away country from India. It has a 1,046-kilometre (650 mi) coastline along the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman in the south, is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, and India in the east and China in the far northeast.[7] Tajikistan also lies very close to Pakistan but is separated by the narrow Wakhan Corridor. Thus, it occupies a crossroads position between South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East.The region forming modern Pakistan was at the heart of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization and then later was the recipient of Vedic, Persian, Indo-Greek, Islamic, Turco-Mongol, and Sikh cultures. The area has witnessed invasions and/or settlements by the Indo-Aryans, Persians, Greeks, Arabs, Turks, Afghans, Mongols and the British.
The total area of Pakistan is 340,403 sq mi and the population is 170,328,000 The national language of the country is Urdu, whereas Punjabi, Saraiki, Sindhi, Hindco, Pashtoo, Farsi. English has a vital status among languages in the elite society of Pakistan as it is in India . This is because of the influence of British Rule in the India .
This invasion of India by all the above invaders has created a combination of socio-cultural variations and led vast diversifications in the creation of many languages in the Indian Sub-continent.
The history of Christianity in Indian Sub-continent goes back with the arrival of St. Thomas in India Christianity is India’s third-largest religion, with approximately 24 million followers, constituting 2.3% of India’s population. The works of scholars and Eastern Christian writings state that Christianity was introduced to India by Thomas the Apostle, who visited Muziris in Kerala in 52 CE to proselytize amongst Kerala’s Jewish settlements. It is generally agreed that Christianity in India is almost as old as Christianity itself and spread in India even before it spread in many, predominantly Christian, nations of Europe and America etc.
It has to be remembered at this point that the nations now, India , Pakistan & Bangladesh were undivided and One Nation, India .
Languages:
Native language of Pakistan is Urdu. The history of Urdu begins with the advent of Islam from Arabia , Persia and Afghanistan. In Lucknow the Persian speaking scholars with the combination of Hindi and Persian created a new language with Arabic fonts. This combination was so beautiful and sound so sweet, that it was immediately accepted by all the citizens of India (The undivided India ). After independence Pakistan was created and Urdu was adopted its National Language, in United Nations. Besides Urdu many languages are spoken, written in Pakistan . Urdu can be understood, spoken in many countries viz. India , Bangladesh, Afghanistan , Nepal, Maldives , Persia , Malaysia , Indonesia, in most of Arabic countries etc.
Demographic Distribution of Urdu:
India 150 million Pakistan 140 million
Bangladesh 700,000 Nepal 15,00,000
UK 600,000 America 1.5 million
UAE 10,00,000 Saudi Arabia 250,000
Canada 60,000 Oman 150,000
Germany 35000 Spain 20000
Sweden 15000 France 35000
Norway 35000 Holland 60000
Qatar 90000 South Africa 89000
N.B: There are many other countries where the migrant Pakistanis and Indians live and they speak Urdu.
For evangelizing the strayed lots I can translate and will do the voice work for your website for the proclamation of The Word of God and you will be blessed abundantly.
I would like you to share The Ministry of Christ through which we are working among poor Christians and unaware Muslim communities in Pakistan . The Christians in Pakistan are the most persecuted lots and have no rights in this Islamic country even though we are marching fearlessly as the crusaders of God in proclaiming His Word. As to the Christian values we must love our enemies and must let them know with our good deeds that they may repent and get converted to Christianity and saved.
The Ministry of Christ:
Our Ministry is based in one of the oldest cities in the province of Punjab , Toba Tek Singh. Toba Tek Singh is centrally located and is accessible to most of the cities in Punjab province. We therefore cover most of the unrepresented (virgin and not evangelized) places of Punjab . We offer Sunday church Services, Sunday school, Women Fellowship, Youth Fellowship. Health Camps for the underprivileged, Vocational Trainings and Schools for the poor Christian Children and Orphans etc. With your support we can do much more in future and build a better Christian Society in Pakistan .
For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Amen
I look forward to hear from your valued Ministry.
Thank you.
May God bless you and your Ministry abundantly!
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
Sr. Asphena Elizabeth Marraim
The Ministry of Christ
Shorkot Road, Lane # 4
Toba tek Singh 36050, Punjab
Pakistan
Re ^^
Logical thinking set that the universe didn’t come by chance, but it has a creator! Why?… As it was said before, “nothing” can’t create something. The universe has a beginning, the big bang, an action; It needs then a “director”, the creator of it …(1)
What is also logic is that the creator must exist before the creation, god can’t then be in creations or supported by them… Allah said:” Say: He is Allah, the One! (1) Allah, the eternally Besought of all! (2) » Al Ikhlas, always …(2)
Yes, I quoted things said by “god!” through the prophet Mohamed (mohamed was illiterate) who lived 1400 years ago, those things state facts that modern scientists are discovering in our modern time, nothing said in coran is in contradiction with science –it coincides-, there are also historical miracles, predictions, literacy “miracles”… etc and those are the miracles let by god for this time for those who want to know, the time of modern thinking through scientific logic. Miracles didn’t stop 2000 years ago.
Imagine an illiterate man, 1400 years ago, telling something like :
“Or were they created out of naught? Or are they the creators?” At-Tur (35)
Or : “Verily We created man from a product of wet earth; (12) Then placed him as a drop (of seed) in a safe lodging; (13) Then fashioned We the drop a clot, then fashioned We the clot a little lump, then fashioned We the little lump bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, and then produced it as another creation. So blessed be Allah, the Best of creators! (14) Then lo! After that ye surely die. (15) » Al-Mumenoon (The believers).
Imagine people, that time, didn’t have any idea what was he talking about (the scientific meaning). Isn’t it for us, living in modern times, isn’t it a “miracle” which let us believe it is not from Mohamed the prophet but from the all creator? …(3)
Far away is architecture…
@ Everyone
Ahhh… this discussion on God is getting out of hand. Anyway, nice discussion. Remember this, when a person is too into a religion, it is no longer a religion, it is a cult. The path to enlightment is in the middle, it is the line between all opposite extremes. Too strict and you go on planting bombs (don’t be prejudice, bombing and terrorism are not exclusively Islam, Google for Irish terrorism) and too liberal and you go on wild parties… use ur imagination.
The clock has a designer, and so is the Universe…
IF GOD CREATED THE UNIVERSE, THEN WHO CREATED GOD?
Earlier it was impossible for us to give any satisfactory answer to this question. But modern science, rather we should say that Einstein, has made it an easy task for us. And Stephen Hawking has provided us with the clue necessary for solving this riddle. Actually scientists in their infinite wisdom have already kept the ground well-prepared for us believers so that one day we can give a most plausible and logically consistent answer to this age-old question. Let me first quote from the book “A Brief History of Time” by Stephen Hawking:
“The idea of inflation could also explain why there is so much matter in the universe. There is something like ten million million million million million million million million million million million million million million (1 with eighty zeroes after it) particles in the region of the universe that we can observe. Where did they all come from? The answer is that, in quantum theory, particles can be created out of energy in the form of particle/antiparticle pairs. But that just raises the question of where the energy came from. The answer is that the total energy of the universe is exactly zero.”
Here the question stops. So the clue is this: if we can ultimately arrive at zero, then no further question will be raised, and there will be no infinite regression. What I intend to do here is something similar to that. I want to show that our God is a bunch of several zeroes, and that therefore no further question need be raised about His origin. And here comes Einstein with his special theory of relativity for giving us the necessary empirical support for our project.
God is a Being. Therefore God will have existence as well as essence. So I will have to show that both from the point of view of existence as well as from the point of view of essence God is zero. It is almost a common parlance that God is spaceless, timeless, changeless, immortal, and all-pervading. Here we are getting three zeroes; space is zero, time is zero, change is zero. But how to prove that if there is a God, then that God will be spaceless, timeless, and changeless? From special theory of relativity we come to know that for light both distance and time become unreal. For light even an infinite distance is infinitely contracted to zero. The volume of an infinite universe full of light only will be simply zero due to this property of light. A universe with zero volume is a spaceless universe. Again at the speed of light time totally stops. So a universe full of light only is a spaceless, timeless universe. But these are the properties of light only! How do we come to know that God is also having the same properties of light so that God can also be spaceless, timeless? Scientists have shown that if there is a God, then that God can only be light, and nothing else, and that therefore He will have all the properties of light. Here is the proof.
Scientists have shown that total energy of the universe is always zero. If total energy is zero, then total mass will also be zero due to energy-mass equivalence. Now if there is a God, then scientists have calculated the total energy and mass of the universe by taking into consideration that there is also a God. In other words, if God is there, then this total energy-mass calculation by the scientists is God-inclusive, not God-exclusive. This is due to two reasons. First of all, even if there is a God, they do not know that there is a God. Secondly, they do not admit that there is a God. So, if there is a God, then they have not been able to keep that God aside before making the calculation, because they do not know that there is a God. They cannot say that they have kept Him aside and then made the calculation, because by saying that they will admit that there is a God. At most they can say that there is no God. But we are not going to accept that statement as the final verdict on God-issue, because we are disputing that statement. So the matter of the fact is this: if God is really there, then scientists have shown that both the total mass and energy of the universe including God are zero. Therefore mass and energy of God will also be zero. God is without any mass, without any energy. And Einstein has already shown that anything having zero rest-mass will have the speed of light. In other words, it will be light. So, if God is there, then God is also light, and therefore He is spaceless, timeless. So from the point of view of existence God is zero, because he is spaceless, timeless, without any mass, without any energy.
Now we will have to show that from the point of view of essence also God is zero. If there is only one being in the universe, and if there is no second being other than that being, then that being cannot have any such property as love, hate, cruelty, compassion, benevolence, etc. Let us say that God is cruel. Now to whom can He be cruel if there is no other being other than God Himself? So, if God is cruel, then is He cruel to Himself? Therefore if we say that God is all-loving, merciful, benevolent, etc., then we are also admitting that God is not alone, that there is another being co-eternal with God to whom He can show His love, benevolence, goodness, mercy, compassion, etc. If we say that God is all-loving, then we are also saying that this “all” is co-eternal with God. Thus we are admitting that God has not created the universe at all, and that therefore we need not have to revere Him, for the simple reason that He is not our creator!
It is usually said that God is good. But Bertrand Russell has shown that God cannot be good for the simple reason that if God is good, then there is a standard of goodness which is independent of God’s will. Therefore, if God is the ultimate Being, then that God cannot be good. But neither can He be evil. God is beyond good and evil. Like Hindu’s Brahma, a real God can only be nirguna, nirupadhik; without any name, without any quality. From the point of view of essence also, a real God is a zero.
So, why should there be any need for creation here, if God is existentially, as well as essentially, zero?
But if there is someone who is intelligent and clever enough, then he will not stop arguing here. He will point out to another infinite regression. If God is light, then He will no doubt be spaceless, timeless, etc. Therefore one infinite regression is thus arrested. But what about the second regression? How, and from whom, does light get its own peculiar properties by means of which we have successfully arrested the first regression? So, here is another infinite regression. But we need not have to worry much about this regression, because this problem has already been solved. A whole thing, by virtue of its being the whole thing, will have all the properties of spacelessness, timelessness, changelessness, deathlessness. It need not have to depend on any other external source for getting these properties. Thus no further infinite regression will be there.
H. S. Pal
I was an architecture student, and hated all religions especially christianity, and would find all sorts of reasons to oppose. i was just so full of myself, self-centered, until one day, i was illed due to long period of sleepless night and unhealthy diet, and of course ‘architectural’ stress, and i discovered that even the greatest conqueror like me would fall sick, and become weak, and i have infected with such diseases for years. having tried to find all means to get healed, i was led to seek God, and to cut short long story, i was miraculously healed completely, and saved. yes, i believe in the Creator, the Holy Trinity-Father God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit.
Ngan, i hope that God will open your spiritual eyes, and lead your life to encounter Him one day, there is no other names that God has given to us to be saved, except the name of Jesus.
Please remember, open your mouth and your heart to call for the name of Jesus at the CRITICAL MOMENTS in your life, then you will see what would happen next. i did the same, my life has never been the same again from that moment. Cling on to what i have said to you.
You’re asking the wrong question.
You cannot ask WHO created God. GOD was never created. He always was, always is, and always will be.
The concept of God is in eternity. He is infinite and there for there is no beginning (creation) or end (death) for God. If you cannot understand this concept, think of a simple line in math. It just continues.
The beauty of it all is that it does work out.
We DONT understand God and His ways 100%, otherwise it’d be stupid and we’d be Gods ourselves. But God has allowed us to understand ENOUGH of him so that we can come to logical conclusions about His existence.
The stupidest thing is when people assume that God can be proved through the logical minds of humans. He CANT. You cant come here with some stupid quote from HAWKINGS (a human being) and take his word as the final argument. You argue historical biblical texts aren’t trustworthy, then why trust any human from any age? Your arguments are invalid and a fallacy.
@Kate
That is exactly what I have been saying. Religious people can’t answer the question therefore they forbids people from asking the WHO question.
I can’t be certain if he exist, maybe he does, maybe he doesn’t. If there is no beginning or end as said by you, then life is probably like an endless loop. Where when we die, the light at the end of the tunnel is us being pushed out of another vagina.
Maybe our souls are all pieces and fragments of God, collectively we becomes him – the one.
Calling people stupid is not God like for a religious person like you. Thank you.