Do Not Mistake Negative One for Zero
As a New Atheism escapee, an exploration of this concept is near and dear to my heart.
In New Atheist thought, it is often repeated that the man who makes a negative claim bears no burden of proof, since he does not really bring forth a challenge or project. This is called the null hypothesis – and I propose that this concept is substanceless and only a rhetorical trick.
Let us examine a sample set of claims. “God exists” and “God does not exist” do indeed differ as types of statements, because one proposes being (1), and the other, non-being (-1). However, both statements propose – they make a claim about the nature of reality. Thus, they are both positive statements, equally in need of support.
The sharp-eyed atheist will immediately take issue here, arguing thus: “No, you’ve got it quite wrong. In saying ‘God does not exist,’ it is not that I propose the non-existence of God. Rather, I am not-proposing His existence, making my claim analagous to 0, not -1. The 0 claim is null and demands no supporting evidence.” This is foolishness, for this is still a claim. Only he who makes no claim at all bears no burden of proof.
Furthermore, the null hypothesis serves as a rhetorical tool to entrap the non-atheist interlocutor and force him to work within an atheistic or scientific-materialistic framework. For the atheist, it is abundantly obvious that God does not exist, and his clarity of mind is such that no defense is necessary.
By pulling this null hypothesis idea out of his back pocket during a discussion, the atheist simultaneously reinforces his own confidence in his position and compels his interlocutor to “present your evidence, sir” – but, of course, the evidence for God’s existence belongs to a completely different category from that which would be acceptable to the atheist.
Ultimately, the man who finds God is he who makes no claim at all, for God makes himself known in silence. Whether he is a “theist” or an “atheist,” a man will not find God until he approaches Him with fear and trembling, recognizing God’s awesomeness in comparison to man’s utter inaccuracy. Prayer sought in earnest leads to silence – to listening, as opposed to speaking – and, thus, to hearing God’s voice. We must allow God to find us.
Rothko Chapel interior. Photograph by Paul Hester.