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| to offer a verbal defense; rational defense for the truth claims of Christianity |
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| Best Explanations Approach |
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| Christianity is not concretely proven, but rather it is the best explanation for the effects we observe in the universe |
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| the approach that uses all arguments for God together to create a larger, more strong argument |
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| Minimalistic Concept Approach |
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| I don't need to necessarily prove that the Christian God exists, just that a personal, moral, and intelligent creator exists |
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| uses the meaning of cause to be "that which is necessary for something to be"; based on the fact that a currently contingent universe requires a current cause (argument from contingency) |
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| That which does not need to be and therefore depends upon something else for its existence |
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| defines cause to be "something that starts something going"; based on a chain of causality through or in time; the chain of causes eventually ends with the original or first cause; also called the Kalam Argument |
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| impossible, so it must be uncaused or caused by another |
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| nope, not possible, must be self caused or caused by another |
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| Caused by another? (Universe) |
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| Only plausible explanation |
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| contingent events would extend back into infinite, which is logically observed; a necessary first cause must exist |
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the chain of contingent events must trace back to a first cause
1. Whatever begins to exist has a cause
2. The universe began to exist
Therefore the universe must have a cause |
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| One event causes the next; there is a series of causes |
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| caused by beings (agents) that have the ability to begin event causation |
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| that which exhibits intelligence in design but has no intelligence itself |
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| Some organic systems cannot be reduced to a group of simple parts that happened to come together because the parts cannot be accounted for apart from the system |
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| an exact order of symbols in DNA records information |
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| provides a mathematical means for measuring information and therefore intelligence; the design of DNA is illogical to happen by chance |
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| Certain sequences and orders in the universe are to specified to have happened by chance |
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| regularities of succession are all-pervasive; the same natural events happen over and over; the orderliness of the universe is explained by its constant conformity to simple, formulable scientific laws; cannot be explained by science, for it is science that we are explaining; either by coincidence or design |
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| The basic elements that make up the structure of the universe are delicately set at exactly the correct setting in order for complex life forms to form and survive |
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| a fact about a fundamental element of physical reality which has no scientific reason behind its existence i.e. speed of light |
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| the universe seems to have unfolded with the purpose of assuring the possibility of complex life forms |
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| Morality arose from social ideas; some reduce morality to social convention, but that makes no sense; it reduces to relativism |
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| the justification of God in the face of evil |
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| Evil that occurs as the result, either directly or indirectly, of the choice of a moral agent |
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| Suffering that occurs because of natural event not in the control of a moral agent |
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| Logical Argument from Evil |
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Definition
the existence of both God and evil is logical incompatible; they contradict each other;
1. God exists
2. God is omnipotent
3. God is omnibenevolent
4. God exists
Therefore since evil exists, there is no God |
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| Omnipotent (Aquinas/Classical) |
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| "powerful enough to do absolutely anything" is not classical meaning; Aquinas said that it means that God can do anything that is possible and does not have a contradiction |
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| Evidential Argument from Evil |
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| The existence of evil is strong evidence that there is no God; while it is logically possible that they both exist, it is not probable |
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| While it is true that God created everything, evil is not a thing; it is a lack of perfection or privation of perfection in things |
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| in order for man to be truly moral, he must do so freely; this causes him to have love, trust, and faithfulness; however, this also allows the possibility to bad to occur; free will does not exist without the possibility of evil |
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| the existence of a law-like, orderly universe is necessary in order for humans to exist and operate in it; there is no way that anything could be without natural law, but this natural law is the same that causes natural disasters |
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| in order to produce a virtuous and moral character, individuals must face challenges and overcome difficulties; the only way to be virtuous is to do so in the face of evil; there is a greater good of being virtuous |
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| evil that has no good purpose that we can see; we cannot understand it. |
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| rational belief always requires good evidence or reason usually in the form of argumentation |
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| the idea that man was created with the cognitive faculty that produces belief in God in the appropriate circumstances; John Calvin |
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| the view held by Plantinga that belief in God can be a properly basic belief |
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| be prepared to give a defense at any time |
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| Foreman's Approach to God |
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Definition
1. Best Explanation- it is not concrete, but it is the best explanation for the universe
2. Cumulative Case Approach- by themselves the arguments are not complete, but together they are comprehensive and strong
3. Minimalistic Concept of God- not arguing for the Christian God, just a moral, personal, and intelligent creator |
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| not God, just arguing for a first cause in general |
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1. Impossible- I exist so it isn't impossible
2. Necessary- I am not necessary to the universe
3. Contingent- I depend upon a string of causes |
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| Three kinds of causes for existence |
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Definition
1. Self-Caused
2. Uncaused
3. Caused by Another |
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| Philosophical Arguments Against an Infinite Universe |
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Definition
1. An actually infinite (completely infinite collection) number of things is impossible in a space/time continuum because it would involve logical absurdities
2. It is impossible to form an actual infinite number in a space/time continuum because adding one member to another does not affect infinity |
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| Scientific Arguments Against an Infinite Universe |
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Definition
1. The current model of the origin of the universe argues against an infinite universe
2. The 2nd law of thermodynamics argues against an infinite universe (entropy) |
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| Criticisms of Cosmological Argument |
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Definition
1. If everything needs a cause, then so does God.
A: every effect/event needs a cause, but every THING does not need a cause
2. This argument does not demonstrate the existence of God, just a first cause
A: You're right |
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| 2 Elements of the Teleological Argument |
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1. Complexity: irreducible complexity and Paley's Watchmaker argument
2. Information: DNA and information theory; information communication requires an intelligent design
3. Order: order requires design; Swineburne's Temporal Order of the Universe
4. Purpose: teleos; Fine Tuning Argument |
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| Swinburne's Temporal Order Argument |
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| there are regularities of succession that are all pervasive; the same events occur repeatedly and conform to law; this cannot be explained by science b/c it appeals to them |
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The appearance of design is the production of natural selection
A: this doesn't answer the question of order, purpose, and complexity; it doesn't account for the anticipatory aspect of nature; doesn't account for irreducible complexity |
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| Conclusion of Teleological Argument |
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Definition
| makes it probable but not certain that there is design in the world; favors a unity of causes and does not demand absolute perfection; does not explain the presence of evil and disorder and is based off of the principle of causality: there must be a cause for design |
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| the general concept of morality; the idea of right and wrong |
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| Three reasons why morality concept originated with a person |
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Definition
1. Moral obligations only concern persons
2. Concept is an idea and only persons have ideas
3. That which created the concept cannot be less than that to which it applies |
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| Three reasons why morality came from God |
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Definition
1. Not from a single human mind, it is too big
2. Cannot be less than perfectly good
3. Only God can guarantee that the demands of morality are fulfilled |
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| the idea that evil and God cannot coexist is not explicitly contradicting (i.e. married bachelor) but rather implicitly contradicting due to the meaning of terms |
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| If God created everything, then didn't he create evil? |
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| Evil is not a thing; just like cold and silence are not things, they are just the absence of another (privation argument) |
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| What greater goods counterbalance the evil in the world? |
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Definition
1. Free Will- not possible without the possibility of evil
2. Law of Nature Theodicy- same physical laws that apply to nature for good apply to nature for bad
3. Purpose of Suffering- just because we do not know the purpose, doesn't mean one does not exist
4. Soul-Making Theodicy- challenges and suffering shape all that one is |
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| Weren't other possibilities open to God rather than evil? |
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Definition
1. He could have created nothing, but is nothing better than something? it is impossible to compare the two because nothing is not a thing
2. He could have created a world where creatures chose freely to do good, but it isn't logical to guarantee that creatures will freely do this |
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| Isn't there a problem that a lot of evil seems to have no good purpose? |
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1. If God exists, then there is no evil that has no purpose
2. it is possible that gratuitous evil occurs, but I can account for that in the four goods that come by evil |
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| if there is no God, there is no absolute right or wrong; good and evil are just feelings; evil is understood as the negation of the good, but if there is no good, there cannot be evil; if there is no universal good, then there is no evil |
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