DoesGodexist?
ThequestionofGod'sexistenceisaperplexingone,theonlyevidencewehaveofGodiswhatwe aretoldfromthosewhoworshiphim,andunknownscanbedebatedlogicallyifahigherbeingisin control.
Ithasbeenwrittenthatinthebeginningtherewasmanandtherewaswoman,andGodputthetwo togethertocreateanewraceofbeings.WearetoassumethenthatGodgavethesebeingsasoulto distinguishthemfromotherbeings,forexample,plants.Thesoulisoftenarguedtobeamystical formthatisimmortalandcannotbeproventobeanythingelse
AssumingthisargumenttobevalidthenGodisasupremebeingtohavecreatedhumans.Wehave severalhighbeingsthatappeartostemfromthisonedivinebeing,...showmorecontent...
Thisleadstotheargumentforaheavenandahell,anafterlifefortheimmortalsoultomoveonto Plato'scosmologydictatestheNotionofPurityinthestructureoftheuniverse,goingasfartosay thattheEarthisroundandbeyondthestarsandplanetsisaWorldofBeing.
Hisreasoningiswhatispurewillriseabovetheearth,andwhatisnon–purewillslipfromit.People offaithtakethisconceptandsaytheremustbeasupremebeinggoverningthisprocess,thusGod mustexistItisSocratesmetaphysicsthatleadsustotwoworlds,oneofbecoming,theotherof being.IntheWorldofBecomingthebodyismostliketheseen,andintheWorldofBeingthebody isoftheunseen,accordingtoSocrates.IntheWorldofBecominghumansarelimitedbytheirbody, whereastheWorldofBeingconsistsofthemindandsoul.SocratesbelievedtoachievetheWorldof Beingonemustdietofreetheirsoul,andhedidthis.Believingatruephilosopherisonewhowants deathheletithappensothathissoulcouldbefreetolearnthetruthoftheportraitofanidealform, freeoflimitations.PeopleoffaithwouldsaythatthisiswhatGodultimatelydidaswell.Godwasa truephilosopherwhofreedhissoul.Unfortunatelyforthephilosopherswhoaccomplishthis,we neverhearfromthemagainIfthereisaGod,thenhemustbeasilentbeingthatisdiligentinhis work.Whatwehavearereasoning'sonan
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"IsitPossibletoProvetheExistenceofGod?"
TherearemanyargumentsthathavebeenbroughtforwardtosupportorrefutetheexistenceofGod. Eveninearlytimes,theseargumentswerethereandanumberofphilosophersarguedonthe possibilityofGod'sexistence.St.ThomasAquinasisoneofthephilosopherswhosupportedthe existenceofGod.InoneofhiswritingsthatisreferredtoasSummaTheologica,heprovidesfive waysinwhichGod'sexistencecanbeproved(Aidan,2001)Ibelongtothisschoolofthought whichbelievesthatGoddoesexist.Therefore,thispaperseekstopresentargumentsthatprovethe existenceofGod.
Firstandforemost,thepossibilityofGoditselfimpliestheexistenceofGod.Maydole(1980)gives anin–depthanalysisofSt.AnselmwhowasoftheideathatGodcouldnotbeabeingthatisgreater thanwhichthehumanmindcanconceiveTherefore,ifthereisevenaslightestconsiderationthat Godexists,thenhedoesexist.Hegoesontoassertthattherecanonlybeonesupremebeingin existenceandthatthesamesupremebeingcannotbegreaterthatitself.Therefore,thisargument suggeststhatco–supremityamongdistinctthingsisimpossibleForthatreason,Godexists ThesecondconvincingargumentabouttheexistenceofGodconcernsthewayinwhichtheworldis governedThingssuchasnaturalbodiesdonothaveamindoftheirownandyettheyactforanend Suchends,seeminglypursuesthebestresults.Itcannotbe ...Getmorecontent...
RJLongstreet
GodisRealThequestion"IsGodreal?"hasbeenspeculatedforyearsandyearsItisoneofthe mainquestionsthatisstillbeingaskedintoday'sworld,withmovies,musicandmediasurrounding it.Thepopularmoviesthathaverecentlybeenreleasedsuchas"God'sNotDead"and"Heavenis forReal,"areperfectexamplesofthis,withmillionsgoingtoseethem,andsupportingthe assumptionthatthereisaGodandplacecalledHeaven.MillionsofpeopleasserttheirfaithofGod onadailybasisbyclaimingtopraytohim,anddoingthingsinordertobringhimglory;theBibleis amajorcomponentthatpeopleturntoinordertosupporttheirclaimthatGodisreal,andisstill apartofoureverydaylife.However,thereisasidethatstatesGodisnotrealandhewillnotreturn. Majorargumentsforthissidewouldbethroughcertaincatastrophiceventsthatoccurred,suchasthe Bostonbombingsortheattackon9/11.ThenonbelieversstatethatiftherewasaGodhewouldnot puthispeoplethroughthat;andalsotheargumentofevolution,andhowmancametobe.Asforme, IbelievethatGodisindeedreal,becausethestoriesofJesustoldthroughtheBible,theamountof peoplethatclaimtohavefirst–handexperienceofbothGodandheaven,howMosesobtainedthe TenCommandmentsatMountSinai,andhowlifeeventsareinterconnectedtoteachuslessons Usually,abookortextisamajorcomponentthat
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BertrandRussell'smainargumentsagainsttheexistenceofGodandChristianityingeneral,started withthedefinitionofaChristian.Hegavehisopiniononseveraltypesofargumentfortheexistence ofGodSuchas,thecosmological,thenaturallaw,theteleological,themoral,andtheargumentfor theremedyingofinjustice.HethengavehisviewofthecharacteristicofChrist,thedefectsin Christ'steaching,andhowthechurcheshaveretardedprogress.IntheprocessofreadingBertrand Russellargument,hehasmadesomevalidpoints,butalsomadesomeunsoundjudgment IthinkBertrandRussellcritiqueisfairinthatalotofpeopleintoday'ssocietyhasaloosedefinition ofwhataChristianis.AChristianisnotjustsomeonethatlivesagoodlife.AChristianshould portrayadogmaticnature,andbelieveinGodandimmortality.Howeverhisargumentis contradictoryinthefirstcause,hefirstclaimsthatifeverythingmusthaveacause,thenGodmust haveacauseThenheopposeshisargumentbystating,iftherecanbeanythingwithoutacause,it mayjustaswellbetheworldasGod.Inmyopinionthisispoorreasoning....showmorecontent... Ontheotherhand,BertrandRussellclaimsthatheisnotaChristian,butyetheseemstoknowthe biblemorethanmostprofessedChristiansdoButithasbeensaid,thedevilknowsthebiblejustas good,becausehewasonceanangelinheaven.Ihavefoundhiscritiquetoberatherconvincing, becauseitmayeitherstimulateapersontoevaluatetheirbeliefs;oritmaybeanawakeningtoa professChristian,thatdonotknowthewordofGod,andrealizesthatanatheistknowsmoreabout theChristianfaiththantheChristians
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DoesGodExistThequestionofGod'sexistencehaslingeredinthemindofmansincethedawnof religion.Thesimplefactthatbillionsofpeopleconsiderthemselvestohavesomeallegiancetoa deitymeansthatthisquestiondeservestobeseriouslyconsidered.InthispaperIwillargueforthe sakethatGoddoesexistandthereasonswhy.Iwillincludemanyoftheargumentsfoundinour philosophybookandthosecoveredinclassaswellasothersubjectssuchashumansufferingand thereasonsGodchosetomaketheworldasitistoday,alsoincludingexamplesfromlifeandthe movieswewatchedinclass.
StThomasAquinashadmanyargumentsfortheexistenceofGodandoneofthosewasthefifth way.Intheargumentofthefifth...showmorecontent...
Toexistinrealityisgreaterthanexistinginthemind(idea).ThereforeGod,beingthatwhich nothinggreatercanbeconceivedmustexistinreality.Allhispremisessupporthisconclusion, creatingavalidandsoundargumentprovingthatGodmustexist.
TheatheistWilliamRoweusesanargumentcalledtheproblemofevilthattriestoprovethe nonexistenceofGod'showeverIcandismisssaidargument.Theproblemofevilistheargument thatanall–powerful,all–knowing,andperfectlygoodGodwouldnotallowany–orcertainkindsof–evilorsufferingtooccur.Theproblemofevilcontendsthatsomeknownfactaboutevilisevidence againsttheexistenceofGod.ThisobjectionistypicallyraisedagainsttheChristianfaith.TheBible describesGodasagodoflove(1John4:16)andanallpowerfulgod(Jeremiah32:17)The rationalebehindthisobjectionis,quitesimply,ifGodisalovinggodthenhewouldn'twant mankindtosufferandifheisanallpowerfulgodthenhewouldhavethemeanstostopsuffering. Therefore,therationalefollows,GodcannotbebothlovingandallpowerfulandsotheChristian premisemustbewrong.However,thisis,infact,anoversimplificationofChristiantheology.The Bibleitselfacknowledgestheexistenceofsufferingandevensuggeststhatsufferingbringsbenefits: InRomans8:17itissaidthat"Weareheirs–heirsofGodandco–heirswithChrist,ifindeedwe shareinhissufferingsinorderthatwemayalso
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Perhapsthemostimportantquestioninlifesomeonecanaskthereself'sis,whetherornotgod exists.Fromthevideo"Doesgodexist"QuentinSmith,agraduateofWesternMichiganUniversity says,"Allthegalaxieswereoncecompactedtogether,andthebigbangtheoryiswhenallthematter inthegalaxiesjustblewapart.Andthemystery,accordingtosciencelaws,istherecanbenocause ofthisinitialexplosion"Althoughtherecanbecountlessallegationssomeonecanmaketorefute thisknownfact,Ibelieve,throughmyexperiences,thatthisistrue.Thus,leadingmetobelieve thereisanunimaginableforcethatcontainsspacethatmusthavebeenabletoexpandouruniverse intowhatweseetoday"Godisatlibertytocreate,whateverstateoftheshowmorecontent Keithward,agraduateofOxfordUniversity,describesinthevideo"CanweknowGodthrough experience?"thatwhenpeopledecidetogetintoarelationshipwithgod,itisaculturebased practice.Hegoesontosay"Sowhattheyfeelisbeingdisclosedisveryrelativetotheculture they'rein."'AccordingtotheOklevuehaEarthWalksproclamation,ceremoniesareconductedasa meansofconnectingpeoplewiththeircreator,"developinganappreciationforallthingsonthis earth,andallourrelations,"andto"facilitatechangein[people's]lives."Duringtheseceremonies, churchmemberssay,peoplewithtroubledandtorturedpastsoftenbecomeemotionaland confessional,diggingdifficultmemoriesfromtheplacewheretheymaylielatentwithin,then bringingthemtolightinanattempttoresolveandgetbeyondthem.'(ArticlebyJaredW. Blackley2001)Inmyopinion,thatiswhatMooneyistryingtoconveytothecourtsHedoesn't wantthecourttoseethisasadrug,butawaytoexperiencewhatitmeanstobe
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EveryculturehasitsGod.ChristianityandIslamhavetheirowngod;theRomansandGreekshad theirPantheon.Alotofpeoplebelieveingodhavethoughtthatthereismoretolifethematerial worldaroundus.Itseemsarisesnaturallytheworldoverbybelievingingod.DoesGodexist?I believeinGodisexistsbythephilosophicalargument:ontologicalargument,thefirstcause argument,theargumentformdesign,andthemoralargumentArgumentsrelatetotheexistenceof Godareindifferentforms:somefocusonhistory,someonpersonalexperience,someon philosophy,andsomeonscience.TheseargumentsarethepurportedproofoftheexistenceofGod. Ifsuccessfully,eachargumentsupportsaspecificandcertainconceptionofGod
ArgumentI:ThedesignargumentfortheexistenceofGod.Theargumentfromdesignisthe teleologicalargumentthatfocusesonthefactthattheuniverseisordered.Thecomplexworldand orderofnaturemustbedesignedbysomemind.ThemindisGod.Thekeythemeofdesign argumentisthatGodmustexistthoughthewaythingswork,andGodasanintelligentdesignerwho makestheworldbethewayitis.Godexistsfromthewaythingsinnatureareorderedandtheir apparentpurpose.Everythingappearstohaveapurposebyhappenedrandomly.Therefore,God designandordertheworldbyparticularway.AnthropicPrincipleisoneofthemainelementsfor thedesignargument.Thisprincipleconsiderstheuniverseis
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DoesGodExist?TheexistenceofGodisaquestionthathastroubledandplaguedmankindsinceit begantoconsiderlogic.IsthereaGod?HowcanwebesurethatGodexists?Canyouprovetome thatHeisreal?DoesHisexistence,orlackthereof,makeasignificantdifference?Theseloaded questionsstrikeattheheartofhumanexistence.Buttherealquestionis,canweansweranyof them?ThesequestionsareansweredintheargumentsofStThomasAquinas,BlaisePascalandSt AnselmofCanterbury.Forthousandsofyears,theologians,philosophersandscientistshavebeen tryingtoproveordisproveGod'sexistence.Many,includingthethreementionedabove,havestrong proofsandtheoriesthatattempttoconfirmGod'sexistenceAlthough,withoutanyscientific evidence,howcantheybeentirelysure?"Philosophicalproofscanbegoodproofs,buttheydonot havetobescientificproofs,"(Kreeft).GravitysimilartoGod'sexistence;itcannotbeseennor explained,yetitstillexists.Withfaith,reason,understandingandevensomemath,God'sexistence canbeverifiedrationally.ItisdifficultandnearlyimpossibletosaywhetherornotGodcanexist becausethereisadefinitelackofknowledge,orlimitedknowledge,regardingthisissueMost humanbeingsinsocietyhavethenaturalcuriosityandburningdesiretoknowifGoddoesordoes notexist.But,whenitcomestoGod–thepossibilitiesareendless.Heisanythingandeverything–heisnot
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DoesGodExist?
1.Whatroledoargumentsplayinansweringthisquestion?
Ithinkargumentshaveplayedanimportantroleinanalyzingandunderstandingthedepthofthis question,formankind.Althoughthequestionitselfseemsfactual(eitheritdoesoritdoesn't),yetno argumentshavebeenabletoanswerthisquestionconclusively,despitemanydebatesgoingonfor centuriesOnepossiblereasonforthatinconclusivenessmaylieinourintuitionandtheway, humansdefineGodandexistence.Wewillexplainwhywedon'tthinkargumentsconclusively answerthisquestion,inmoredetailinanswertoquestion4below.
2.DoesStrollofferanyargumentsthathelpanswerthisquestion?
Strollhimselfdoesn'tproposeany...showmorecontent...
Othercriticsofthestrongversionoftheontologicalargumentpointoutthatthoughitispossibleto understandthedefinitionofgodintheargument,itisinconceivabletoconceiveofsomethingof whichnothinggreatercanbeconceived.However,Stroll[1]pointedoutthatitisnotpossibleto provehispropositionagainsttheontologicalargumentandsamecanbesaidaboutothercritiquesof thisargumentaswell.HencetheissueofexistenceofGodisstillundecidedbasedonthe ontologicalargument.
Stroll[1]thendiscussesthedesignargumentwhichisbasedonempiricalobservationand experiment.Theargumentfromdesignisaposterioriasittriestoassemblescientific,observational evidenceinsupportofitspropositionforexistenceofGod.Thedesignargumentstatesthatthe naturalworldaroundusislikeacomplicatedmachinemadeupofsmallermachines,inwhicheach objectfulfillsapurposetocompletethecomplexcircleoflifeinourworldSinceallcomplicated artifactscanonlybebroughtaboutbyadesignerthusthedesignargumentproposesGod'sexistence astheultimatedesignerofthiscomplicatedmachine.Strolllooksatargumentsforandagainstthe designargumentbythediscussionofthreephilosophers(Cleanthes,PhiloandDemea)inthebook byDavidHume(Dialoguesconcerningnaturalreligion).
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ThesisStatements1.Becauseofman'signoranceandcuriosity,argumentsfortheexistenceofGod havebeenmadeovertheyears.Basically,theseargumentsaredividedintotwolargegroupsi.e. logicalandmetaphysical.Actually,theseargumentsseektoprovethattheexistenceofabeingor havingfaithwithatleastoneattributethatonlyGodcouldhaveislogicallynecessary.2.Believing andhavingfaithinGodwillonlyresorttoonething–goodness3Faithhassomethingtodowith one'sconceptionaboutGod.4.TheexistenceofGodremainsamatteroffaithsinceit'sdifficultto "prove"Godtosomeonewhodoesnotbelieve.5.Thereareargumentsthatattemptstogive informationofwhattheyknowaboutshowmorecontent
Theanalogyjustdoesn'twork.Second,somesaythatthetheoriesofthebigbangandevolution betterexplainthecomplexityintheuniverse.Third,somesaythateveniftheteleologicalargument istrue,itdoesnotprovetheexistenceoftheChristianGod.3.OntologicalArgument
ThethirdargumentforGod'sexistenceistheontologicalargument.Thisargumentisunlikethe cosmologicalandteleologicalargumentsinthatitdoesnotarguefromevidenceinthenaturalworld Thus,itisnota"causeandeffect"argument.Theontologicalargumentcanbestatedinthisway: "Godisthegreatestbeingimaginable.Oneoftheaspectsofperfectionorgreatnessisexistence. Thus,Godexists."Orputanotherway–"ThefactthatGodcanbeconceivedmeansthathemust exist."ThisargumentforGod'sexistencewasdevelopedbythetwelfthcenturytheologianand philosopher,AnselmItisbasedonAnselm'sdeclarationthatGodis"thatwhichnothinggreatercan beconceived."Theontologicalargumenthasbeenverycontroversial.Evenmanywhobelievein God'sexistencequestionitsvalidity.AcontemporaryofAnselmnamedGuanilorespondedto AnselmGuanilosaidthatonecouldimagineaperfectislandbutthatdidnotmeanaperfectisland exists.Othershavesaidyoucanimagineaunicornbutthatdoesnotmeanunicornsexist.Thus, manychallengetheideathat
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Oneburningandenduringprobleminphilosophytowhichwehavegivenconsiderableexamination isthequestionoftheexistenceofGod––thesuperlativebeingthatphilosophershavedefinedand dealtwithforcenturiesAfterreadingtheclassicargumentsofStAnselmandStThomasAquinas, thecontentiousassertionsofErnestNagel,andthecompellingeyewitnessaccountsofJulianof Norwich,Ihavebeenintroducedtosomeofthemostreveredandreferencedargumentsforand againstGod'sexistencethathavebeenputintotextAllofthemarewell–thoughtandwell–articulatedarguments,buttheyhavetheirholes.ThequestionofGod'strueexistence,therefore,is stillnotdefinitivelyansweredandputtorest;theintensityofthis...showmorecontent... Ihavenotseenaresponsetothisproblemsoeffectivelystated,honest,andconvincing.Nagel's argumentsconcerningtheTheodicyProblemshowthatatheiststhinkinamuchmore straightforwardandpracticalfashionthandotheists
ThewayNagelusesthewords"unvarnishedfactsofhumanexistence"(606)leadstoanother attractiveelementtoatheismandtohiswork––Nagelappealstotheearthlylife,andonlytheearthly life,indescribinghowatheiststhink.Insteadofreachingouttoanotherworldordeitythatdoesnot evencertainlyexist,atheists"oftentakeastheiridealtheintellectualmethodsemployedinthe contemporaneousempiricalsciences"(607).Becauseatheistsuseempiricalevidenceobtained throughscience,i.e.useevidencethatcertainlyexistsandcanbesensed,allofthethinkingtheydo isbasedsolelyonwhatclearlyanddistinctlyexistsinrealityToatheists,saysNagel,"controlled sensoryobservationisthecourtoffinalappealinissuesconcerningmattersoffact"(608).Notallof theistthinkingisbasedonsomethingthatisprovedtoexist,sinceGodhasnotbeenabsolutely provedtobe,sotheessentialbaseofthetheistthoughtiscomposedofsuppositionandtheory. Atheistssimplygroundtheirlogicinwhatiscertainlyknown,andnoassumptionsfoundtheir reasoningEveninmattersofhumanmorals,atheiststhinkpractically:
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DoesGodexist?Thereisnoevidencethatanygodexist,soIassumethatthereisn'tone.Idonot believeinaheavenorahell!Although,Iwonderwheredidwecomefrom?Wherewillweendup afterdeath?Willwerotunderneaththesoil?Thereareovertwentydifferentreligionswithanswers; somesimilar,somedifferentbutoverall,majorityofthemarebias.Bias,becausenoneofthemare provenIntoday'ssociety,wehumanshaveadaptedthroughevolutionsbyusingoursurroundings suchlikeanimalsknowingourneedsandwantswiththeuseofreasoninsteadofreligion.Thereis nosetreligioninthisworldtoliveby:natureactsonitsown.Theambitionthathuman–being strivesforhasthreemainpurposesreason,consideration,andcourageEachreligionhastheirown storiesthatareoraltraditionspasseddownfromgenerationtogeneration.Wherearethefacts? Humanswanttoknowthetruthoftheworldwepopulate,andnotsupernaturaldetails.Likescience aswellasphilosophy,humansstudyandpracticetoincreaseourknowledgeonourworld.Thereare manyreligionsbasedonrace,creed,ethnicity,andothercharacteristicsnotconsideringthatall humanssharethesamemoralrightsYoumaycallmeatheistHowever,Ibelieveinthetruthas secularhumanismbelievesinreasoning.
Thewordhumanismhasanumberofmeanings,andbecauseauthorsandspeakersoftendon'tclarify whichmeaningtheyintend,thosetryingtoexplainhumanismcaneasilybecomea
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DoesGodexist?
DoesGodexist?Thisseeminglysimplequestionisinfactloadedwithamyriadoftwistsandturns thatscientistsandtheologianshavedebatedforyearswithoutreachinganacceptedconclusion.Part oftheproblemliesinthemanydefinitionsofGod.TraditionallyitisacceptedthatGodisasupreme being,infallible,perfect,andexistingoutsideofthematerialworldofhumanityItisthisdefinition thatisgenerallyusedwhendebatingGod'sexistence.Therehavebeenseveralargumentsmade usingthisdefinitionbothforandagainsttheexistenceofGod."ArgumentsfortheexistenceofGod typicallyincludemetaphysical,empirical,inductive,andsubjectivetypesArgumentsagainst typicallyincludeempirical,...showmorecontent...
Hestates,
Mostpeopleunderstandthatsexuallusthastodowithpropagatinggenes.Copulationinnaturetends toleadtoreproductionandsotomoregeneticcopies.Butinmodernsociety,mostcopulations involvecontraception,designedpreciselytoavoidreproductionAltruismprobablyhasoriginslike thoseoflust.Inourprehistoricpast,wewouldhavelivedinextendedfamilies,surroundedbykin whoseinterestswemighthavewantedtopromotebecausetheysharedourgenesJustaspeople engagedinsexwithcontraceptionarenotawareofbeingmotivatedbyadrivetohavebabies,it doesn'tcrossourmindthatthereasonfordo–goodingisbasedinthefactthatourprimitive ancestorslivedinsmallgroupsthatseemstometobeahighlyplausibleaccountforwherethe desireformorality,thedesireforgoodness,comesfrom.
Inaddition,themoralargument,likethedesignargument,ifvalid,mayindicateahigherbeingbut thisbeingisnotnecessarilytheperfectGodpresentedinmostreligionsJustastherearenumerous argumentsfortheexistenceofGodthereareequallyasmanyarguingagainsthisexistence.Oneof theseistheSociologicaltheoryofreligion.Thistheorystatesthatreligiousgodsaretheunconscious fabricationofsocietybroughtaboutinordertocontrolindividualthoughtandbehavior.Themajor criticismofthisargumentisthewidespreadnatureof
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Religionissomethingthatvirtuallyallhumanshaveincommon.Inallcornersoftheworldandin allerasofhistory,peoplehavewonderedaboutthemeaningoflife,howtomakethebestofit,what happensafterwardsandifthereisanyoneoranything"outthere."Theworldofphilosophyconsists ofsomanyunansweredquestions.OnesuchquestioniswhetherornotGodexists.Thisisthevery questionthathasgraspedtheimaginationofhumanitysincethebirthofreason,andthesame questionthathasplaguedscientistsandphilosopherswithoutcomingclosetoanaccepted conclusion.Godisawordthatmeansdifferentthingstodifferentpeople.ThedefinitionforGod, accordingtomostmonotheisticreligionsisthecreatorandrulershowmorecontent WilliamPaleypresentedthewatchmakeranalogyinhisNaturalTheology(1802)"SupposeIfound awatchupontheground,anditshouldbeinquiredhowthewatchhappenedtobeinthatplace,I shouldhardlythink...that,foranythingIknew,thewatchmighthavealwaysbeenthere.Yetwhy shouldnotthisanswerserveforthewatchaswellasforastonethathappenedtobelyingonthe ground?Forthisreason,andfornoother;namely,that,ifthedifferentpartshadbeendifferently shapedfromwhattheyare,ifadifferentsizefromwhattheyare,orplacedafteranyothermanner, orinanyorderthatinwhichtheyareplaced,eithernomotionatallwouldhavebeencarriedonin themachine,ornonewhichwouldhaveansweredtheusethatisnowservedbyit."Paleywrotein responsetoHume'sobjectiontoanalogybetweenartefactsandworlds,choosingtousetheexample ofawatchasareliableindicationofdivinedesignPaleyidentifiestwofeaturesofawatchwhich demonstratethatitisdesigned.First,awatchperformsavaluablepurpose,timekeeping,whicha designerwouldfindusefulandsecondly,thewatchwouldbeunabletoperformsuchapurposeifit's partswereanydifferentorarrangeddifferentlyHestronglyarguedthattheworldofnature showcasesmore
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ThebeliefinGodshasalwaysexistedthroughouthuman'srecoredhistory.WhetheritbetheGreek Gods:Apollo,andZeus,ortheJudeo–ChristianGod,believedbyChristiansinmoderndaysociety. ThebeliefofGodhasalwaysexistedamonghumans,however,assumingGoddoesnotexist,what explainstheculturalevolutionofsuchafalsebelief,namelyreligion?Ishallarguethatthereason thisfalsebeliefissuccessfulisbecauseitmanipulateshumannaturebetterthananyotherbeliefby thesethreepoints:anavoidanceofdeath(thesoul),asenseofworth(knowledge),andasense,or needofbelief(faith).Thisquestionisinherentinclarifyingtheundoubtedlysuccessthisfalsebelief hashadthroughhuman'sexistence.However,...showmorecontent...
Finally,thethirdsectionwilldwellonthecontroversialtopicoffaith,andhuman'sneedforbelief. Religionhasdoneanexcellentjobinmanipulatinghuman'sneedfortrust.Therefore,the combinationofthesethreesectionsshouldcompelthereadertobetterunderstandwhysuchafalse belief,suchasreligionhashadsuchsuccessthroughouthistory.Thefirstsectionofthispaper shouldproperlybenamed:"TheHappyEnding,"asitseemsfittingforthispointofsuccessfor religionItisnotunfairtoassertthatoneofhumansgreatestfearsisdeath,thethoughtofbecome nothingness.Honestly,isthereeverapointinonesownlifethattheycanthink,orevenexperience nothingness?Evidentlytheanswershouldbeno,aswearealwayssomething,alwaysbeingFora humanthisisanoverwhelming,andattimesfrighteningthought.Especiallywhenscienceandmany atheistcomestotheconclusionthatwhenahumandiesnothinghappens,thereisnohappyending ––sadly,nothingnessseemstobetheanswerWiththatbeingsaid,however,religionhasofferedan alternativeanswer,onewhichmostdefinitelyappealstomanyhumans;andmoreimportantlygives humansawayoutofdeath.Beforemovingforwarditmaybeimportanttoclarifythetermdeathand whatitsmeaningisforthepurposesofthisessay.Obviouslynotevenreligioncansavean individualfromdying,humansarebiologicalbeings,thustimeisneveron
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Thequestionoftheexistenceofahigherpower,oragod,haslongplaguedphilosophers.Today, muchoftheintellectualcommunitybelievethatagoddoesnot,andcannotexist.Yet,formuchof theworld'spopulationthereisafirmbeliefinadeityMcCloskeyinhisarticle"OnBeingan Atheist",outlinesthereasonshebelievestheistsarewrong.Asaresultitisonlynaturalfortheiststo examinehisworkandseeifhispointstrulydefeattheideaofgod'sexistence. McCloskeybeginsbydenyingtheideathattheexistenceofagodhasbeenprovenbytheclassical argumentsforhisexistence(McCloskey,1968).Infact,thisistrue.TheproofsMcCloskey referencesdonotprovetheexistenceofgod,rathertheycontendthatgodis...showmorecontent... Some,likeMcCloskey,disputethatthereneedstobeanexplanation.Perhapstheseobjectssimply exists,andthatisafactthatmustbeaccepted(Evans&Manis,2009).Philosophically,acceptinga factlikethisnotananswertothequestion,butratherturningablindeyetoitAnotherargumentis thateverycontingentelementsimplyreliesonanothercontingentelement,creatingacircleof contingentelementssupportingoneanother(Evans&Manis,2009).Becauseofthisthewhole seriesofcontingentobjectscannotbefullyexplained,nordotheyhaveareasontoexistNeitherof thesetwoatheisticexplanationsactuallyanswerthequestionofwhyorhowthesecontingentobjects existTosaythatananswertothisquestiondoesnotexistorisnotneededistosaythattrue meaningdoesnotexistnorisitneeded(Evans&Manis,2009).TheendresultofMcCloskey'sview isthattheredoesnotneedtobeanyreasonwhytheuniverseisthewayitis,whichisaratherhard viewforaphilosophertotake
Next,McCloskeyproclaimsthattheseproofsdonotmeanthatthereisanomnipotent,perfect,and everexistingbeing.Again,heiscorrect.Theargumentsneverclaimthattheyattempttoprovesuch adeityexists(Evans&Manis,2009).Thepointoftheargumentsaretomakeacasethatthereisa reasonagodorgodswouldexist,nottoprovethatacertaingodexists(Evans&Manis,2009).
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DoesGodExist?
APhilosophicalArgumentfortheExistenceofGodDoesGodExist?IfGodsodesired,Hecould merelyappearandattesttothewholeofhumankindthatHeexistsButifHedidthat,therewould benoneedforfaith."ThenJesustoldhim,'Becauseyouhaveseenme,youhavebelieved;blessed arethosewhohavenotseenandyethavebelieved'"(John20:29).I'msureanabundanceofpeople wouldloveforsomeonetosimplyshowthemtheevidenceforGod'sexistenceEnoughofthose statementsof,"Youjusthavetobelieve"or"Justhavesomefaith"suchstatementsthatleavemany peoplewithnocomfortoracceptance.Iwouldliketoattempttopointoutsomeofthereasonsthat leadmeundoubtedlybelievethatGodexists.Firstofall,considerthefollowing.Whenitcomesto theprospectofGod'sexistence,theBiblesaysthatthereareindividualswhohaveseensufficient evidence,buttheyhaveconcealedthetruththeyhaveseenOntheotherhand,forthosewho continuetowonderifGodisthere,hesays,"Youwillseekmeandfindme;whenyouseekmewith allyourheart,Iwillbefoundbyyou."BeforeonelooksatthefactssurroundingGod'sexistence, onemustaskthemselves,ifGoddoesexist,wouldIwanttoknowhim?Tofollowaresomereasons toconsider.Firstofall,themostfamiliarargumentisthatsomethingmusthavecausedtheUniverse toexistPhilosopherscallthistheCosmologicalArgument,andearlyadvocatesofthisspecific
DoesGodexist?Thisburning,three–wordquestionhasbeenarguedoversincethebeginningof mankind.Everyonehastheirownopinionaboutreligion,andMartinLutherandRéneDescartes werenoexceptiontothatstatementBothmen,borninthe15thcenturyand16thcentury respectively,hadadesiretoseekoutthetruthandanswertothatquestion.Whetheritwasfrom diligentlystudyingscripture,orgoingoutintotheexpansiveworld,eachmanfoundwhattheywere lookingforInLuther'sbook,OnChristianLiberty,andinDescartes'book,Discourseonthe Method,eachauthorwroteoftheirfindings.WhileLutherandDescartesbothconcludedthatGod didexist,eachmanhadadifferentmeansofgettingtothetruth.Thesis:whichwasbetter?When someonemakesaboldstatement,thegeneralconsensusisthattheyshouldhavesomesortof reasoningtobackitup.ThisisexactlywhatDescartesthought.Hisjourneytoseekingtruthfirst startedwhenhewasachildHewaseducatedinallsubjects,butjustassoonastheyended,hewas curiousformore.Sohewentoutintotheworldtotrytofindthetruthhehadbeenlookingfor. Whilehedidlearnnewthings,hewasneversatisfied.Finally,whenhehadexasperatedthebooks andworld,hewasleftwithnothingotherthanhimselfButthisputhimexactlywhereheneededto be.Frommeditative,selfreflectionhefoundhistruth.Hewroteonpage64,"Ithink,thereforeI am"Descartesconcludedthatnothingwasfor
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DoesGodReallyExistsTheideaofGodhasbeenoneofthemostdebatableissuessincethedawn ofhumanityandwithitguidedaswellasdeludedmostlivesinthepursuitforthetruth.Theimpacts springingfromthenotionofGodhasfromtimememorialchangedhistory,inspiredmorepoetryand musicincludingphilosophymorethananythingelse,imaginedorreal.PeterKreftonceconcluded that"TheideaofGodiseitherafact,likesand,orafantasylikeSanta"(Lawhead,p334)Overthe causeoftime,differentargumentshavesurfacedwithinandwithoutthephiloshophicalboundaries inanattempttoeitherexplaintherealityofthenon–existenceofaGod.Afewoftheseclaims includethe,cosmologicalargument,theteleologicalargumentandtheproblemofevilHowever, althoughbothargumentsareinsufficientlyconclusiveintheirargumentsaboutGod,the cosmologicalargumentseemstospeakerquitelouderthantherestandthusformsthebasisofthis paper:itgeneratestheconclusionthatGodexistsbasedonfundamentalconsiderationsaboutthe causeoftheworldandwhythereissomethingratherthannothing.Tobeginwith,teleological argumentpositsGod'sexistencebasedontheappearanceofdesignTheCosmologicalandthe teleologicalargumentsarebothbasedonempiricaloraposteriorreasoningandhavetheirroots deepenedinphilosophyhistory.Onthecontrary,theproblemofevilssupportstheargumentthat Goddoesnotexistbasedonthepresence
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GodDoesExist!
P1:Godisamaximallygreatbeing.
P2:IfGodisamaximallygreatbeing,thenGodisanecessaryentity.
P3:IfGodexistsnecessarily,thenGodexistsinallpossibleworlds
P4:IfGodexistsinallpossibleworlds,thenGodexistsinourworld.
P5:IfGodexistsinourworld,thenGodExists.
C1:GodExists
Myargumentisagreatargument.Amaximallygreatbeingisdefinedasanentitywhopossessesall favorableattributessuchasloveandmorality.Theseattributesalsoincludenecessity.Anecessary entityisonethatexistsinallworldsandcannotbeprovenfalse,makingitafavorableattribute.A square,forexample,necessarilyexists.Thesquarecannotexistinourworldwithonlythreesides.
Becauseitcan'texistinourworldwithonlythreesides,itcan'texistinallpossibleworlds Therefore,anecessaryentitycannotbefalse,and...showmorecontent...
However,thisisconsideredtobelogicallyabsurd.Byaskingifamaximallygreatbeingcanmakea burritosospicy,thatevenhecan'teatit,istoimplythatthedefinitionofomnipotentistheabilityto dothelogicallyimpossible.Inactuality,thedefinitionofomnipotentistohaveaverygreator almightypower,nottodowhatislogicallyimpossibleItissimilartoaskifGodcancreateasquare withthreesides.Thethreesidedsquaredoesnotexistinthisworld.Ifitcannotexistinthisworld thenitcannotexistinanypossibleworldbecausethesquarewithfoursidesisnecessarilyexisting.
Ifitcannotexistinanypossibleworld,thenit'slogicallyincomprehensibleandcannotbeanswered byanyone.Youcan'tusealogicalabsurditytodisproveGod'sexistencebecausetheargumenthas tofolloworder.IfmyargumentaboutGod'sexistencehastofollowlogicandorder,thensodoesa refutationtryingtodisproveGod's
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