Is There a God?Is There a God?

RebuttalRebuttal

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Extraordinary claims Extraordinary claims require extraordinary require extraordinary evidenceevidence

Plausible ordinary Plausible ordinary explanations are explanations are sufficient to refute sufficient to refute extraordinary extraordinary claims.claims.

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Cosmological ArgumentCosmological Argument

1.1. Whatever begins Whatever begins must have a cause.must have a cause.

2.2. The universe had a The universe had a beginning.beginning.

3.3. Therefore, the Therefore, the universe must universe must have had a cause.have had a cause.

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Not everything that Not everything that begins has a causebegins has a cause

Physical particles begin Physical particles begin to exist without cause.to exist without cause.

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Is the big bang evidence Is the big bang evidence that the universe had a that the universe had a beginning? beginning?

The universe need not The universe need not have begun with the have begun with the big bang.big bang.

The Cyclic UniverseThe Cyclic Universe

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Does an infinite Does an infinite universe have a universe have a beginning?beginning?

If the universe is infinitely old, then it had no If the universe is infinitely old, then it had no beginning - not a beginning infinitely beginning - not a beginning infinitely long ago.long ago.

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-∞ +1

-∞ + 2

-∞ + 3

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3

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Universe can be finite Universe can be finite and still not have a and still not have a beginningbeginningEinstein:Einstein: Time is what you Time is what you read on a clock.read on a clock.

Forward timeForward time

0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, . . . ticks0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, . . . ticks

Never reach infinite time.Never reach infinite time.

Backward timeBackward time

0,-1, -2, -3, -4, -5, . . . ticks0,-1, -2, -3, -4, -5, . . . ticks

Never reach minus Never reach minus infinite time.infinite time.

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Is the universe fine-Is the universe fine-tuned for life?tuned for life?

Some other kind of life Some other kind of life could exist with different could exist with different physics.physics.

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Argument from Argument from improbabilityimprobability

The universe and The universe and life are too life are too improbable to be improbable to be solely natural.solely natural.

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The The improbable improbable happenshappens

Must compare probabilities.Must compare probabilities.

P(natural) / P(supernatural) = ?P(natural) / P(supernatural) = ?

Low probability events happen Low probability events happen every day.every day.

What is the probability that What is the probability that William Lane Craig exists?William Lane Craig exists?

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Why is there Why is there something, rather than something, rather than nothing?nothing?

Why should nothing be Why should nothing be more natural than more natural than something?something?

How could “nothing” How could “nothing” even exist?even exist?

Why is there God Why is there God rather than nothing?rather than nothing?

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Genesis confirmed?Genesis confirmed?

Does modern Does modern cosmology confirm the cosmology confirm the Biblical view of Biblical view of creation?creation?

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Genesis falsifiedGenesis falsified

LightLight left quasar 12 left quasar 12 billion years ago.billion years ago.

What does Genesis What does Genesis actually say?actually say?

1.1. Earth created before Earth created before sun, moon, and stars.sun, moon, and stars.

2.2. Universe is about Universe is about 6,000 years old.6,000 years old.

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Objective moralityObjective morality

Objective morality Objective morality exists and must come exists and must come from God.from God.

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Subjective moralitySubjective morality

Not everyone shares Not everyone shares the same morals.the same morals.

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Is the Gospel historical?Is the Gospel historical?

Do Gospel stories Do Gospel stories describe actual describe actual historical events?historical events?

The Empty TombThe Empty Tomb

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The Empty TombThe Empty TombNo evidence outside of No evidence outside of Bible.Bible.

Eyewitness testimony Eyewitness testimony is unreliable.is unreliable.

Napoleon’s Tomb

Somebody Somebody took the took the body!body!

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Personal experience of Personal experience of GodGod

Can one know God exists Can one know God exists by personal experience?by personal experience?

Subjective. Not everyone Subjective. Not everyone shares that experience.shares that experience.

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No evidence for GodNo evidence for God

Plausible natural explanations Plausible natural explanations exist for all phenomena in exist for all phenomena in the universe.the universe.

God is not required to God is not required to explain the universe.explain the universe.