The main proofs of Gods existence can be summed up in the following: 1. The Ontological Argument Form: We have the idea of a completely perfect Being. Existence is necessary to complete perfection. Anything that did not exist would be less than perfect that if it did exist. Since God is completely perfect then he must exist. If God did not exist then he would lack perfection. Objections: - The idea of perfection adds nothing to the concept of a thing. - The perfect thing that we imagine may not exist. 2. The Cosmological Argument (or Causal Argument) Form: Look at the universe. It came from somewhere. Some great cause produced it. That Cause is God. Objections: - It establishes nothing about the deitys characteristics and cannot be used to establish any particular deity. - It leads to an infinite regress where the question it asks in terms of God can be asked of God in turn. - We only know that everything has a cause from experience. Experience tells us nothing about causality in any non-empirical world. 3. Argument from Miracles Form: Miracles exist and are God intervening in the natural course of events. Objections: - Miracles are not empirically proven to exist. - The meaning of the term miracle must be defined as it may be the instance of an unknown natural law. - It does not prove a particular deity or the deitys characteristics. 4. Utility Argument Form: Belief in God is a great and indispensable moral influence. Without it human beings would not live good lives. Therefore, it must be true and God exists. Objections: 1. It is not proven that religion is indispensable to good conduct. The opposite is also shown in the Crusades, Inquisitions and Witch Hunts caused by religion. 2. Even if the premise Belief in God is a great and indispensable moral influence is true it does not prove that God exists. Would belief in ghosts that produced good conduct likewise prove that ghosts were true? 5. Argument From Religious Experience Form: I (and other people) have experiences of a particular nature, which are so profound, so meaningful, so valuable, that they cannot be explained on any natural hypothesis. They must be due to a Supernatural being, God who inspires such experiences. Objections: - If a religious experience of the Christian God proves the existence of a Christian God then a religious experience of a Hindu likewise proves the existence of a Hindu God. - It cannot be used for any particular God and works equally well for Woden, Thor and Zeus. 6. Teleological Argument (Argument from Design) Form: The universe shows evidence of order and design. A master architect has been at work. Purpose and not blind chance governs the universe. The Purposer is God. Objections: - Epicurus problem of evil negates it. Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then is he impotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then is he malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Whence then is evil? (David Hume) - It is an argument from analogy which is always invalid. - It cannot establish any of the hypotheses.
Posted on: Sun, 20 Jul 2014 05:20:53 +0000
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