Proof of the Existence of God This proof should help the reader to see in what sense the evidence for God is obvious. The conclusion of the argument will

Proof of the Existence of GodThis proof should help the reader to see in what sense the

evidence for God is obvious.

The conclusion of the argument will not be some bare theism, but the distinctive God of Scripture: Trinitarian, sovereign, transcendent, immanent, absolute and personal

1. Moral Argument

2. Epistemological Argument

Metaphysical Arguments:

3. Teleological Argument – Purpose

4. Cosmological Argument – Cause

5. Ontological Argument – Being

Apologetics to the Glory of God Ch4 Existence of God


Psalm 71:14-19v.14 Faith is being sure, or confident,

of the hope you have.I will speak so God is praised andv.15 His salvation is clearly displayed.Proofs of God’s righteousness and his

deeds of salvation are more numerous than I can count.

v.16 Speak with POWER from the Holy Spirit

v.17 I have known God from my youth and I keep on proclaiming His wondrous deeds in my life.

v.18 Preserve me till I’m old so that I will proclaim You to another generation.v.19 Your righteousness extends into

infinity. You do great things,Who is like you?

Moral Argument Moral Values1. We cannot see them2. We cannot feel them3. We cannot hear them4. We know they exist5. Ex. A witness can see a thief walk into a

bank and rob it, but they cannot see the moral evil of the robbers action. The evil is without a doubt there.

6. Right and Wrong cannot be seen or heard


Moral Argument Ethical Values

1. Truth is an ethical value

2. Jean-Paul Sartre

3. Ethical values are hierarchically structured


Moral Argument Morality

1. We learn morality, typically, in the family

2. Moral standards presuppose absolute moral standards, which presuppose the existence of an absolute person

3. If God is absolute then he has no beginning and no end


A Cursory Look at Christian Epistemology

What is knowledge? What can we know? How do we come to know what we know? How do we know we really know? What are the limits of knowledge?


Epistemological

Scripture is God’s voluntary self-revelation and our knowledge of who the Creator is and who we are must come from this authoritative Word.

The Psalmist says, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1)


Circular Reasoning

o Circular reasoning is the only reasoning that is possible for finite man

o we either reason from God to God-given and God-interpreted facts

o or, from man to man-interpreted facts.


Two levels of knowing

God’s knowledge is ultimate and absolute

Man’s knowledge is derivative and dependent


Three states of epistemological consciousness

1. Adamic Consciousness- although this state does not exist at the present, it was extant with Adam and Eve prior to the fall. Adam as a finite being was created with an innate knowledge of God.




2. Unregenerate Consciousness- Scripture tells us that when Adam broke the law of God, a profound change took place in Adam and subsequently in all men. Instead of being inherently receptive to the revelation and law of God, Adam’s reason, will, and affections sought to suppress the same law and revelation (Rom. 1:18-23).


3. Regenerate Consciousness- After regeneration the intellect, the will, and the affections are renewed in principle

(Col.3:10). By the renewing work of the Holy Spirit man’s mind is in principle returned to its normal (Adamic) condition.


If evolution was true, why does only man have logic?

- Some say it was an evolved improvement to preserve the human species (e.g. we don’t just step in front of a car expecting not to be hit, because of logic)

- According to evolutionists cockroaches and other animals have been around longer than humans


In ConclusionThe power of logic is normative and ethical. The power of logic is normative and ethical.

It tells us what we ought to confess as a It tells us what we ought to confess as a conclusion, granting our confession of conclusion, granting our confession of premises. And if it is ethical, it is premises. And if it is ethical, it is covenantal; like moral values, it rests on covenantal; like moral values, it rests on the dependable word of a trust worthy the dependable word of a trust worthy person, a Lord, or absolute divine person, a Lord, or absolute divine personality. Thus, when unbelievers use personality. Thus, when unbelievers use logic to raise objections against logic to raise objections against Christianity, they are using something Christianity, they are using something which, manipulate it how they may, points which, manipulate it how they may, points in the opposite direction.in the opposite direction.



Teleological ArgumentTeleological Argument

Teleological ArgumentTeleological Argument

* The name “the teleological argument” is * The name “the teleological argument” is derived from the Greek word derived from the Greek word telostelos, , meaning meaning endend or or purposepurpose. .

* It is important to keep in mind that when * It is important to keep in mind that when we say that the world is “designed” we are we say that the world is “designed” we are comparing it to man made objects. comparing it to man made objects.


** Science is a ReligionScience is a Religion* Definition of religion: is the way one * Definition of religion: is the way one

believesbelieves

* Science is not a religion. Creation is a religion * Science is not a religion. Creation is a religion but not science. but not science.

* Science is based upon faith. For example: * Science is based upon faith. For example: evolution has not been seen and has not been evolution has not been seen and has not been tested but with faith people believe that it tested but with faith people believe that it happened.happened.


* Scientist dated Fossils by the Rock layers they * Scientist dated Fossils by the Rock layers they were found in and Rock layers were dated by were found in and Rock layers were dated by the Fossils in them. This is the Fossils in them. This is CIRCULAR REASONING. CIRCULAR REASONING.

* Logical reasoning tells us that rock layers that * Logical reasoning tells us that rock layers that are lower are older than those that are higher. are lower are older than those that are higher. But sometimes to find the age of a rock we have But sometimes to find the age of a rock we have to look at the fossils inside that rock. to look at the fossils inside that rock.

* Was that circular reasoning?* Was that circular reasoning?


* Life is evolving but only in a downhill * Life is evolving but only in a downhill direction.direction.

* There is plenty of evidence for beneficial * There is plenty of evidence for beneficial mutations and natural selection as seen in the mutations and natural selection as seen in the way bacteria adapts to new environments.way bacteria adapts to new environments.

* * Everything can adapt to new environments, but Everything can adapt to new environments, but can a group mutate into a whole new species?can a group mutate into a whole new species?


ThereforeTherefore

The universe has an intelligent DESIGNER The universe has an intelligent DESIGNER

Psalm 8: 3-4Psalm 8: 3-4


CosmologicalCosmological -The basics of Cosmological--The basics of Cosmological- -Came from the Greek Word “Kosmos”, which -Came from the Greek Word “Kosmos”, which

means “World” or “Universe”means “World” or “Universe” This argument generally begins with the This argument generally begins with the

existence of the world or existence of the world or some part of it and seeks to establish the existence of a necessary a necessary Being whoBeing who causes the existence of the world.causes the existence of the world.

The Three Forms of the Cosmological ArgumentThe Three Forms of the Cosmological Argument 1.1. The Thomist argument – The Thomist argument – Discussed laterDiscussed later

2.2. The Leibnizian argument – The Leibnizian argument – The existance of God The existance of God is important and necessaryis important and necessary

3.3. The The Kalam argument – argument – The world was caused to The world was caused to exist at the beginning of timeexist at the beginning of time


The Thomist ArgumentThe Thomist ArgumentApologetics to the Glory of God Ch4 Existence of God

Got its name from St.Thomas AquinasGot its name from St.Thomas Aquinas

Humans are restricted, contingent Humans are restricted, contingent beingsbeings

Such beings need something to be Such beings need something to be dependent upondependent upon

Must come from one Essential Being like Must come from one Essential Being like GodGod

Sub-sets of the Thomist ArgumentSub-sets of the Thomist Argument

MotionMotion – every motion is caused by a – every motion is caused by a previous motion, ultimately requiring an previous motion, ultimately requiring an “unmoved mover”“unmoved mover”

CauseCause – – much like the motion much like the motion argument, but simpler. Every effect is argument, but simpler. Every effect is caused by a previous action; the whole caused by a previous action; the whole process requiring a “first” or “uncaused” process requiring a “first” or “uncaused” cause.cause.


Opposition to Thomistic Opposition to Thomistic ArgumentsArguments

IrrationalismIrrationalism – – believe some events are believe some events are “uncaused”“uncaused”

Ironically try to build rational Ironically try to build rational arguments to prove their beliefs.arguments to prove their beliefs.

However any effect resulting from However any effect resulting from an “uncaused” cause would have an “uncaused” cause would have no meaning or rational grounds.no meaning or rational grounds.

How can we find meaning in an How can we find meaning in an irrational world?irrational world?


Overview of the Kalam Overview of the Kalam ArgumentArgument


Personal Not Personal

Caused Not caused

Beginning No Beginning

Universe

From the view of ChristianityFrom the view of Christianity The world is not self-existent and The world is not self-existent and

self-explanatory.self-explanatory. It is not CauselessIt is not Causeless God is the ultimate source of the God is the ultimate source of the

world.world.

If we assume that the world is If we assume that the world is rational, we must assume that God rational, we must assume that God is the author of the reason. is the author of the reason.


OntologicalOntological ArgumentThe ontological argument attempts to prove God’s existence

through abstract reasoning alone.

Ontological Argument Alone?-All arguments should be presented and used together.

For example: Many strands of one rope.

Proving God’s Existence-If arguments are united, God’s existence becomes

convincing to unbelievers.


Ontological Continued… Formulating the Ontological Argument:Premise 1: God has all perfections.

Premise 2: Existence is a perfection.

Conclusion: Therefore, God exists.

Definition of God:Perfection: greatest possible being, not merely the greatest

thing that happens to exist. He is the highest great-making property to the highest degree.


Argument Based on Reason:The fact that we can conceive the idea of God shows

that He exists, because we cannot conceive anything greater than ourselves, unless that being gives us the ability.

Ontological Argument Claims:that the idea that God doesn’t exist is just as

preposterous as saying a four sided triangle exists.


Ontological Continued…

Confusion of Atheists:Perhaps atheists doubt in the existence of God because they

can’t believe in the existence of a perfect being.

Conclusion – Anselm of Cantebury:He stated that he was seeking “not to understand, that I may

believe, but to believe, that I might understand.”


Ontological Continued…


Documents

Proof of the Existence of God This proof should help the reader to see in what sense the evidence for God is obvious. The conclusion of the argument will