The Existence of
God
ARBOR OAKS BIBLE CHAPEL – JANUARY 2016
The Existence of God
Clarifying Terms
A
skeptic says: “I doubt that God exists”
An
agnostic says: “I don’t (or can’t) know if God exists.”
An
atheist says: “I know God does not exist.”
The “New Atheists”
The Existence of God
It is impossible to prove atheism.
Requires
omniscience
Talking with Atheists
Illustration: Library of Congress in Washington D.C.
Contains over 70 million items (books, magazines, journals, etc.).
Many written by scholars and specialists in the various
academic fields.
Ask the following question: "What percentage of the knowledge
recorded in the volumes in this library would you say is within
your pool of knowledge and experience?"
The atheist will likely respond, "I don't know. I guess a fraction of
one percent."
Then ask: "Do you think it is logically possible that God may exist
in the 99.9 percent that is outside your pool of knowledge and
experience?"
Making a Case for God
Romans 1:19 For what can be known about God is
plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
20
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power
and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever
since the creation of the world,1 in the things that have
been made. So they are without excuse.
21
For although they knew God, they did not honor him
as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in
their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
(ESV)
Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from
heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness
of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the
truth.
21
For although they knew God, they did not honor
him as God or give thanks to him, but they became
futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were
darkened.
Making a Case for God
1.
The Cosmological Argument
Argument from cause and effect
The kalam form of the argument:
Whatever begins to exist has a cause
The universe began to exist
Therefore, the universe has a cause
Making a Case for God
2.
The Teleological Argument
Argument from design
The Intelligent Design movement (ID) has
advanced the argument from design at the
scientific level
Dawkins’ Central Argument
1.
One of the greatest challenges to the human intellect,
over the centuries, has been to explain how the
complex, improbable appearance of design in the
universe arises.
2.
The natural temptation is to attribute the appearance of
design to actual design itself (e.g. a watch, eye, wing,
spider, person).
Dawkins’ Central Argument
3.
The temptation is a false one, because the designer
hypothesis immediately raises the larger problem of who
designed the designer…It is obviously no solution to
postulate something even more improbable.
4.
The most ingenious and powerful explanation is
Darwinian evolution by natural selection…We can now
safely say that the illusion of design in living creatures is
just that – an illusion.
Dawkins’ Central Argument
Therefore God almost certainly does not exist.
Evaluation?
Stonehenge
Making a Case for God
3.
The Moral Argument
Universal sense of right and wrong. Where does it come
from?
Making a Case for God
4.
The Anthropological Argument
Human intelligence, rationality, language, spirituality
The need for meaning, purpose, love, hope
All these things are incompatible with materialism
Responding to Objections
There is no God.
But many people believe in God. Why?
Because they want to be comforted. So they
“project” or “objectify” their longings and call this
“God.”
So this nonexistent God is simply the projection of
human longings.
Ludwig Feuerbach
How would you respond?
Wanting something does not prove it does not
exist.
Human
thirst points for the need for water.
Alister McGrath:
“All worldviews are a response to human needs
and desires—including, of course, atheism,
which can be seen as a response to the human
desire for moral autonomy.”
Responding to Objections
Getting rid of religion in favor of Darwinian science will create a
better world (less evil, war, etc.)
Under (atheistic) Soviet communism it is estimated that between
85 and 100 million people were executed
Darwinian theory was foundational to Nazism
McGrath: “The 20th century gave rise to one of the greatest and
most distressing paradoxes of human history: that the greatest
intolerance and violence of the century were practiced by those
who believed that religion caused intolerance and violence.”
The Christian faith explains the presence of evil and points to the
solution in the gospel