Now, none of these arguments make a definitive case for the existence of God, and many of them are (fairly) easily debunked or problematized (as I'll try to show). If no lawmaker, then no universal moral laws we’re all obligated to obey. Such a being could not be perfect unless its essence included existence. Plato and Aristotle). My second favorite argument for God’s existence is a little easier. Therefore, a First Cause (or something that is not an effect) must exist. Arguments for the Existence of God The arguments themselves are arranged under the following headings: Pascal’s Wager, The Ontological Argument, The Cosmological Argument (including the first cause argument), The Teleological Argument (i.e. A Compelling Case For The Existence of God E-Book Review By David P. Craig Just because this e-book is short (approximately 60 pages) does not mean that it is simplistic or not weighty. Contrary to popular belief, the problem of evil is not a good argument against God. Criticism declares that it is unfair to argue for every thing’s cause, and then argue for the sole exception of a “First Cause,” which did not have a cause. The argument can be used against the existence of God and/or his competence. Therefore, the material universe must have had a cause. The problem with the problem of evil is that if God does not exist, there can be no real evil to object to. For there is discovered greater and lesser degrees of goodness, truth, nobility, and others. If no moral laws, then no broken laws. But, if so, how can I trust my own thinking to be true? Arguments for the existence of God are usually classified as either a priori or a posteriori—that is, based on the idea of God itself or based on experience. Arguments for the Existence of God. For those things which are the greatest truths are the greatest beings, as is stated in Metaphysics Bk. As you can see, these four arguments form a logical explanation for believing in the existence of God. If you answered “the problem of evil,” you’d be right. Ontological: It is possible to imagine a perfect being. Answer: The fine-tuning argument is a specific application of the teleological argument for the existence of God. This book assesses the worth of arguments for and against the existence of God. That’s relativism. Apologists rely on a variety of arguments to substantiate the existence of a God, or to support the claims of divinity by a particular denomination's founder(s) or for its sacred texts. The witness argument gives credibility to personal witnesses, contemporary and from the past, who disbelieve or strongly doubt the existence of God. Let me introduce the first one—my favorite—with a question: What is the most frequently raised objection against theism of any sort? What are the most convincing arguments for the existence of God? 2 ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT The term ‘ontological’ comes from the Greek ontos, meaning ‘essence’, ‘existence’, ‘being’. the argument from design), The Moral Argument, and The Argument from Religious Experience. The Argument from Contingency (1) Everything that exists contingently has a reason for its existence. I have seen people use that argument or something like it, … First, God is a figure of faith and all that falls under the category of faith cannot be proven. Argument 5: The Ontological Argument. It’s like upsetting a milk jug and hoping that the way it splashes itself will give you a map of London. In effect Aquinas is claiming thatwhe… Morality, they argue, is not universal. Marvin, this one is fairly easy for me since I have two favorites I think are relatively easy to follow and are really powerful evidences for God. The following was originally published here as part of a Q&A with Greg Koukl on RZIM Connect. 5) The fact that mathematics can actually describe the universe in a coherent way with simple mathematical equations. If God is perfectly good, God wishes to prevent any evil he can prevent. Therefore it is necessary to arrive at a first mover, put in motion by no other; and this everyone understands to be God. Obviously, much more can and has been written. Investigation into origins questions often lead into speculation about the nature of a power much greater than ourselves. Premise 2) Objective moral values exist. 2. Argument Number One: The Universe. II. It has been some time since the last one so it seems like the time is ripe for another – and this one is a great one for discussion. Moral arguments for God’s existence form a diverse family of arguments that reason from some feature of morality or the moral life to the existence of God, usually understood as a morally good creator of the universe. If God is all powerful, God is able to prevent any evil he wishes to prevent. Therefore: (3) The universe has a reason for its existence. Feel free to comment on the veracity (or your opinion of) each but remember to keep calm and argue reasonably. Here’s why. Pretty basic, and entirely consistent with our common-sense experience of the world. Note: These all deal with the Judeo-Christian God. Clearly, effects have causes. The ontological argument for the existence of God is a classical Christian argument that contends that the very concept of God logically and necessarily demands existence. The first one starts from the dilemma between our strong conviction that we possess some knowledge of the world and the belief that there are some serious reasons which undermine it. Since nothing can move itself, an external agent or force is/was necessary to cause or instigate the motion … The argument of causation is the strongest in terms of proving that God really does exist. If God is all powerful, God is able to prevent any evil he wishes to prevent. It has a fancy name—the Kalam cosmological argument—but it’s really easy to understand. Therefore, the argument is sound. Now, one very common argument against the existence of God is the argument from evil. The Second Way: Argument from Efficient Causes. First, however, I want to show you the top 5 “arguments” for God’s arguments for God’s existence that you need to avoid: #1. It is also criticized as a circular argument, revolving from a premise to a conclusion which relies on the premise, which relies on the conclusion. There are three major arguments used to “prove” God’s existence. Nothing finite and contingent can cause itself. This argument, originally formulated by a Benedictine monk named St. Anselm and has gone through several revisions over the centuries. Furthermore, that which is the greatest in its way, is, in another way, the cause of all things belonging to it; thus fire, which is the greatest heat, is the cause of all heat, as is said in the same book (cf. This argument is technically valid, provided that the three constituents are accepted, and most critics refuse to accept the first. So the cause would have to be immaterial, intelligent, powerful, and personal—since only persons can start a causal chain of events. But none of this has anything to do with God’s existence. Stated as a syllogism, it looks like this: The form of the syllogism is valid (modus tollens), and the premises are true. There is motion in the universe. What Apologetic Arguments Are There for the Existence of God? An example of the latter is the cosmological argument , which appeals to the notion of causation to conclude either that there is a first cause or that there is a necessary being from whom all contingent beings derive their existence. Sequentially speaking, these three points are true. Help us continue to equip Christians with knowledge, wisdom, and character. David wrote most of the Psalms and in many of these he wrote that it was obvious that the universe was created and thus, demanded a Creator. But “more” or “less” are terms spoken concerning various things that approach in diverse manners toward something that is the “greatest,” just as in the case of “hotter” approaching nearer the “greatest” heat. There is one thing every person knows, no matter where he lived or when he lived. A causal chain cannot be of infinite length. Arguments for the Existence of a God. Since the Enlightenment, monotheistic concepts have also come under criticism from atheism and pantheism.. Anselm’s eleventh-century argument was the first of its kind and continues to resurface in different forms. This list may not reflect recent changes (). The five arguments are sound, but not all prove God’s existence the same way. (2) The universe exists contingently. Thus, the argument is better treated as a disproof of naturalistic materialism. It is one of the most ancient arguments in favor of the existence of God. Also known as proofs for God's existence, these arguments have not always come with full acceptance. Second, the material universe (the cosmos) came into existence sometime in the past. The Third Way: Argument from Possibility and Necessity (Reductio argument) We find in nature things that are possible to be and not to be, that come into being and go … Thomas Aquinas’s most famous proof of God refuses to go away. Below are 10 arguments for the existence of God. By the end of each argument, Aquinas' concept of God has only minimal content which he fleshes out through the rest of the Summa theologiae. I encourage you to keep studying this topic and look for answers to the questions you have. #9) ARGUMENT FROM MORALITY. Some of the above arguments are very weak: appeals to personal experience,vicious circular reasoning, and appeals to a first cause. 3. Premise 1) If objective moral values exist,then God exists. Here we present five arguments in favor of the existence of God, and the counterargument for it. In the West, they lead to speculation about God; more specifically, they motivate arguments designed to establish the existence of God with the use of “unaided reason”. A philosophic question: Does God reveal his nature both through general (natural) and special revelation? And like the other classic arguments, this one has been highly critiqued. Ontology is the branch of Philosophythat explores the concept of existence. Now, none of these arguments make a definitive case for the existence of God, and many of them are (fairly) easily debunked or problematized (as I'll try to show). Many other lines of reasoning have been used, but the three most significant you should know are the creation (“cosmological”) argument, the design (“teleological”) argument and the moral argument. Better than this, however, is the argument that this proof of God commits the logical fallacy called “infinite regression.” If the Universe had a first cause, what caused that first cause? We realize that many people, both believers and nonbelievers, doubt that God's existence can be demonstrated or even argued about. Note: These all deal with the Judeo-Christian God. A power point. Here we present five arguments in favor of the existence of God, and the counterargument for it. Better explanation for believing in the world of my ideas on this subject of any?! 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