This document discusses different philosophical perspectives on the existence of a supreme being and the meaning of life. It outlines various theistic and non-theistic views including deism, polytheism, monotheism, pantheism, and panentheism. It also summarizes traditional arguments for the existence of God, such as the ontological, cosmological, and teleological arguments, and criticisms of these views from atheism. The document considers different perspectives on the meaning of life from nihilism, theism, and non-theism.

1. A Meaning forA Meaning for
ExistenceExistenceIs there a supreme being who createdIs there a supreme being who created
the universe?the universe?

2. Philosophical ResponsePhilosophical Response
 In general, philosophers do not dispute or refuteIn general, philosophers do not dispute or refute
the existence of a supreme being.the existence of a supreme being.
 Philosophers disagree about thePhilosophers disagree about the
meaning/concept of “supreme being”meaning/concept of “supreme being”

3. TheismTheism
 Study of God or godsStudy of God or gods
 Believe in a God who interacts with the universeBelieve in a God who interacts with the universe

4. DeismDeism
 Believe that a God created this universe butBelieve that a God created this universe but
does not intervene with it.does not intervene with it.

5. PolytheismPolytheism
 Belief in many powerful gods.Belief in many powerful gods.
 Example. Ancient GreeceExample. Ancient Greece

6. MonotheismMonotheism
 Belief in one powerful GodBelief in one powerful God
 Belief in God as a being (personal)Belief in God as a being (personal)

7. PantheismPantheism
 God is impersonalGod is impersonal
 Supreme being that is everywhere and inSupreme being that is everywhere and in
everythingeverything

8. PanentheismPanentheism
 God is everything.God is everything.
 Personalizing God distorts God’s reality.Personalizing God distorts God’s reality.

9. How can you prove that God exists?How can you prove that God exists?
 Western Traditional ResponsesWestern Traditional Responses
 Ontological ArgumentOntological Argument
 Argument is a priori – no evidence from senses; onlyArgument is a priori – no evidence from senses; only
concepts and reasoningconcepts and reasoning
 Defines God as a supremely perfect beingDefines God as a supremely perfect being
 All powerfulAll powerful
 All knowingAll knowing
 Self CausingSelf Causing
** If God does not possess existence, than God would be missing** If God does not possess existence, than God would be missing
an important feature that all existing things have because God isan important feature that all existing things have because God is
perfect he must exist.perfect he must exist.

10. How can you prove that God exists?How can you prove that God exists?
 Cosmological ArgumentCosmological Argument
 Is there a moment when the universe began?Is there a moment when the universe began?
 It is impossible for anything to create itself.It is impossible for anything to create itself.
 There must be Cause to the cause-and-effect seriesThere must be Cause to the cause-and-effect series
that is experienced therefore there must be athat is experienced therefore there must be a
supreme beingsupreme being
 Critics: Big Bang TheoryCritics: Big Bang Theory

11. How can you prove that God exists?How can you prove that God exists?
 Design or Teleological ArgumentDesign or Teleological Argument
 Orderliness of the universe suggests an all powerfulOrderliness of the universe suggests an all powerful
agent must be responsible for its creationagent must be responsible for its creation
 Critics: Universe is deceptively orderly; more chaosCritics: Universe is deceptively orderly; more chaos
than order (collapsing galaxies, dark matter/energy,than order (collapsing galaxies, dark matter/energy,
black holes, etc.)black holes, etc.)

12. How can you prove that God exists?How can you prove that God exists?
 Atheism – rejects the idea of the existence of anAtheism – rejects the idea of the existence of an
all knowing, all powerful, supreme being.all knowing, all powerful, supreme being.
 Humans are cruelHumans are cruel
 World is imperfectWorld is imperfect
 Idea of a God fulfills humans psychological need forIdea of a God fulfills humans psychological need for
securitysecurity
 Everything in nature can be explained by scienceEverything in nature can be explained by science

13. What is the meaning of life?What is the meaning of life?
 Why do humans exist? What is the meaning ofWhy do humans exist? What is the meaning of
my life?my life?
 NihilistsNihilists – life is meaningless– life is meaningless
 TheisticTheistic – the meaning of life is part of God’s– the meaning of life is part of God’s
plan and you must discover itplan and you must discover it
 Non TheisticNon Theistic – the meaning of life is what you– the meaning of life is what you
make of it. Humans are self-conscious and self-make of it. Humans are self-conscious and self-
defining.defining.

14. What do you believe??What do you believe??
 Task:Task:
 Read Pages 164-168Read Pages 164-168
 Define: Hard Determinism, Freedom, and SoftDefine: Hard Determinism, Freedom, and Soft
DeterminismDeterminism
 Read the Thought Experiment on Page 166. Write aRead the Thought Experiment on Page 166. Write a
paragraph reflection on the idea of Free Will.paragraph reflection on the idea of Free Will.