Discussion questions:Does a present day person need something supernatural such as ‘God’ or some sort of ‘force’ to intervene or assist him in his personal life?[Context: Medical advancements, Cloning, Improved quality of life, Self-reliance, Increased control over ‘things’, DNA coding, etc.]
Science tells us what and howReligion tells us who and why
Discussion questions (contd.)2.	What are the popular world views concerning the existence of God?Agnosticism(I don’t know if there is a God)Atheism(I know there is no God)Deism(God is there, but doesn’t care)Pantheism(‘That tree is God’)Panentheism(‘God is in that tree’)Theism(‘God is there and He is not silent’)
How would a pet dog and a street dog answer these questions?
How would an atheist answer these questions?Who am I (and what am I worth)?Where did I come from ?Why am I here?Where am I going when I die?
How would a God-believer answer these questions?Who am I (and what am I worth)?Where did I come from ?Why am I here?Where am I going when I die?
Discussion questions (contd.)3.  Why is an Atheist an atheist?
Discussion questions (contd.)3.  Why is an Atheist an atheist?‘Why can’t he show up?’	Age of science and hence ‘need a proof’	‘look @ the human suffering’	‘why did it happen to me?’	‘Look at natural catastrophes – control?’	‘I don’t need a crutch called ‘god’
But what does the bible say?Psa.14:1The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”     They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.Jn. 3:19-20 and this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. for everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.Is it doubt or denial?
Discussion questions (contd.)4. What are the implications of 	being an Atheist?◘ Everything is matter	◘ Death is final 	◘ Morals/ethics are meaningless
Evolution:Matter + Time + Chance = LifeFairytale:Frog + Time + Kiss = Prince
Is it?
Law implies a __ ___Rule implies a ____Design implies a_____Command implies a _______Creation implies a ______
Law implies a Law-GiverRule implies a RulerDesign implies a DesignerCommand implies a CommanderCreation implies a Creator
Arguments for the Existence of God:Ontological – argument from BEING‘If God exists in the understanding, then he must exist in reality’
Arguments for the Existence of God:Ontological – argument from BEINGCosmological – argument from FIRST CAUSE‘Nothings comes from nothing’
Arguments for the Existence of God:Ontological – argument from BEINGCosmological – argument from FIRST CAUSETeleological – argument from DESIGN‘everything is designed by an intelligent mind for a specific purpose in life.
Arguments for the Existence of God:Ontological – argument from BEINGCosmological – argument from FIRST CAUSETeleological – argument from DESIGNAnthropological – argument from MAN‘Moral constants underlying human civilization’
God’s revelation (4Cs)General revelation 		- Creation (Rom.1:20; Psa.19:1)		- CSpecial revelation		- C		- C
Psalm 19:1-2 (paraphrase)The heavens are singingAbout how great God is;And the skies are shouting it out, “See what God has made!”Day after day … Night after night …They are speaking to us.
God’s revelation (4Cs)General revelation 		- Creation (Rom.1:20; Psa.19:1)		- Conscience(Rom.1:19, 2:15; Acts 17:23)Special revelation		- C		- C
God’s revelation (4Cs)General revelation 		- Creation (Rom.1:20; Psa.19:1)		- Conscience(Rom.1:19, 2:15)Special revelation		- Communication (Heb.1:1)		- C
God’s revelation (4Cs)General revelation 		- Creation (Rom.1:20; Psa.19:1)		- Conscience(Rom.1:19, 2:15)Special revelation		- Communication (Heb.1:1)		- Christ (Heb.1:2; )
Let us memorize Romans 1:19,20andHebrews 1:1,2
No monkey business!GOD is my Creator
For a person who believes in God, no proof is necessary;For a person who is determined not to believe in God, no proof is sufficient.
What to do when there are many gods?1. Pick a God who is outside humanity2. Pick a God you can know personally3. Pick a God who loves you unconditionally4. Pick a God who is all powerful5. Pick a God who knows human experience6. Pick a God who gives meaning to life

Existence of God - Does God really exist?

  • 2.
    Discussion questions:Does apresent day person need something supernatural such as ‘God’ or some sort of ‘force’ to intervene or assist him in his personal life?[Context: Medical advancements, Cloning, Improved quality of life, Self-reliance, Increased control over ‘things’, DNA coding, etc.]
  • 3.
    Science tells uswhat and howReligion tells us who and why
  • 4.
    Discussion questions (contd.)2. Whatare the popular world views concerning the existence of God?Agnosticism(I don’t know if there is a God)Atheism(I know there is no God)Deism(God is there, but doesn’t care)Pantheism(‘That tree is God’)Panentheism(‘God is in that tree’)Theism(‘God is there and He is not silent’)
  • 6.
    How would apet dog and a street dog answer these questions?
  • 7.
    How would anatheist answer these questions?Who am I (and what am I worth)?Where did I come from ?Why am I here?Where am I going when I die?
  • 8.
    How would aGod-believer answer these questions?Who am I (and what am I worth)?Where did I come from ?Why am I here?Where am I going when I die?
  • 9.
    Discussion questions (contd.)3. Why is an Atheist an atheist?
  • 10.
    Discussion questions (contd.)3. Why is an Atheist an atheist?‘Why can’t he show up?’ Age of science and hence ‘need a proof’ ‘look @ the human suffering’ ‘why did it happen to me?’ ‘Look at natural catastrophes – control?’ ‘I don’t need a crutch called ‘god’
  • 11.
    But what doesthe bible say?Psa.14:1The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”     They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.Jn. 3:19-20 and this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. for everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.Is it doubt or denial?
  • 12.
    Discussion questions (contd.)4.What are the implications of being an Atheist?◘ Everything is matter ◘ Death is final ◘ Morals/ethics are meaningless
  • 13.
    Evolution:Matter + Time+ Chance = LifeFairytale:Frog + Time + Kiss = Prince
  • 17.
  • 18.
    Law implies a__ ___Rule implies a ____Design implies a_____Command implies a _______Creation implies a ______
  • 19.
    Law implies aLaw-GiverRule implies a RulerDesign implies a DesignerCommand implies a CommanderCreation implies a Creator
  • 20.
    Arguments for theExistence of God:Ontological – argument from BEING‘If God exists in the understanding, then he must exist in reality’
  • 21.
    Arguments for theExistence of God:Ontological – argument from BEINGCosmological – argument from FIRST CAUSE‘Nothings comes from nothing’
  • 23.
    Arguments for theExistence of God:Ontological – argument from BEINGCosmological – argument from FIRST CAUSETeleological – argument from DESIGN‘everything is designed by an intelligent mind for a specific purpose in life.
  • 27.
    Arguments for theExistence of God:Ontological – argument from BEINGCosmological – argument from FIRST CAUSETeleological – argument from DESIGNAnthropological – argument from MAN‘Moral constants underlying human civilization’
  • 28.
    God’s revelation (4Cs)Generalrevelation - Creation (Rom.1:20; Psa.19:1) - CSpecial revelation - C - C
  • 29.
    Psalm 19:1-2 (paraphrase)Theheavens are singingAbout how great God is;And the skies are shouting it out, “See what God has made!”Day after day … Night after night …They are speaking to us.
  • 30.
    God’s revelation (4Cs)Generalrevelation - Creation (Rom.1:20; Psa.19:1) - Conscience(Rom.1:19, 2:15; Acts 17:23)Special revelation - C - C
  • 31.
    God’s revelation (4Cs)Generalrevelation - Creation (Rom.1:20; Psa.19:1) - Conscience(Rom.1:19, 2:15)Special revelation - Communication (Heb.1:1) - C
  • 32.
    God’s revelation (4Cs)Generalrevelation - Creation (Rom.1:20; Psa.19:1) - Conscience(Rom.1:19, 2:15)Special revelation - Communication (Heb.1:1) - Christ (Heb.1:2; )
  • 33.
    Let us memorizeRomans 1:19,20andHebrews 1:1,2
  • 34.
  • 35.
    For a personwho believes in God, no proof is necessary;For a person who is determined not to believe in God, no proof is sufficient.
  • 36.
    What to dowhen there are many gods?1. Pick a God who is outside humanity2. Pick a God you can know personally3. Pick a God who loves you unconditionally4. Pick a God who is all powerful5. Pick a God who knows human experience6. Pick a God who gives meaning to life