The Arguments for the existence of God reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Arguments for the existence of God

Many arguments for the existence of God have been made over the years.

Table of contents

1 Arguments for the necessity of God 1.1 Metaphysical arguments 1.2 Empirical arguments 2 Arguments for the belief in God 3 The theological status of the arguments 4 See also 5 External link

Arguments for the necessity of God

These arguments can be classified under two headings. First are the strictly logical or metaphysical arguments; these arguments seek to prove that the existence of a being with at least one attribute that only God could have is logically necessary.

Metaphysical arguments

The chief such arguments are:

• The Cosmological argument, which argues that God must have been around at the start of things in order to be the "first cause".
• The Mathematical argument defines God as the Absolute Infinite, a mathematical concept.
• The Ontological argument, based on arguments about the "being greater than which nothing can be conceived".
• The Pantheistic argument defines God as All; it is similar to panentheism and cosmology.

Empirical arguments

Other arguments avail themselves of data beyond definitions and axioms. Some of these arguments require only that one assume that a non-random universe able to support life exists. Others are more strongly tied to the testimony of certain witnesses or the propositions of a specific revealed religion. These arguments include:

• The Anthropic argument focuses on basic facts, such as our existence, to prove God.
• Witness argument gives credibility to personal witnesses, contemporary and throughout the ages.
• The religious or Christological argument is specific to religions such as Christianity, and asserts that for example Jesus Christ's life as written in the New Testament establishes his credibility, so we can be sure of the truth of his statements about God.
• The Majority argument: people in all times and places have believed in God, so who are you to disagree?
• The Moral argument argues that morality cannot exist without God, therefore God must exist.
• The Teleological argument, which argues that since the universe is highly non-random, it must have been designed by an intelligent designer, i.e. God.
• The Transcendental argument, which argues that logic, science, ethics, and other good things don't make sense if there is no God. Therefore, arguments against the existence of God must ultimately refute themselves if pressed with rigorous consistency.

Arguments for the belief in God

There are innumerable informal arguments for belief in God. Some, for example, claim to have had personal experiences with God, or revelations. Some attribute to God miraculous healings, and striking insights gained in response to prayer, worship, or other spiritual circumstances. And some attribute the manner in which events in their lives have unfolded, or fortuitous circumstances in their lives, to the influence of God.

There are also formal arguments for the belief in God. Perhaps the most famous is Pascal's Wager: Rather than arguing that God exists, Pascal seeks to show that belief in God is the best and safest "bet".

The theological status of the arguments

The theological standing of arguments for the existence of God is also subject to some debate among believers. Within the Christian tradition there are two sharply opposed viewpoints. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, following the Thomist tradition of St Thomas Aquinas, affirms that it is a doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church that God's existence can in fact be rationally demonstrated. Other Christians in different denominations hold similar views.

On the other hand, some believers hold a contrary position. These believers note that the Christian faith teaches salvation is by faith, and that faith is reliance upon the faithfulness of God, which has little to do with the believer's ability to comprehend that in which he trusts. In other words, if Christian theology is true, then God's existence can never be demonstrated, either by empirical means or by philosophical argument. The most extreme example of this position is called fideism, which holds that faith is simply the will to believe, and argues that if God's existence were rationally demonstrable, faith in His existence would become superfluous. In The Justification of Knowledge, the Calvinist theologian Robert S. Reymond argues that believers should not attempt to prove the existence of God. Since he believes all such proofs are fundamentally unsound, believers should not place their confidence in them, but rather accept the content of revelation by faith.

There are also several arguments against the existence of God. The most common one is the problem of evil.

See also

• apologetics
• metaphysics
• philosophy of religion

External link

• Dr. William Lane Craig, Talbot School of Theology. Arguments from a current theologian.
• ...Therefore, God Exists. Arguments for the Existence of God. A satirical compilation of many real or alleged arguments.

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