Can We Prove God Exists? Essay
Philosophers, whether they are atheists, or believers have always been eager to discuss the
existence of God. Some philosophers, such as St Thomas Aquinas, and St Anselm, believe that we
have proven that God exists through our senses, logic, and experience. Others such as Soren
Kierkegaard, and Holbach, feel that we will never have the answer to this question due to our
human limitations, and reason. The believer tends to rely on faith for his belief, and claim they do
not need proof in order to believe in the God's existence. The atheist however, tends to lean more
towards common sense and reason, such as science, or the theory of evolution for an answer. The
determinalist for example believes that all actions are caused by nature,...show more content...
Without this premises his argument would fail. It must be agreed to, because it is a true statement.
You do not have to believe in God in order to agree to these Premises. In agreeing to these first
premises, St Anselm forces you to admit that God does exist in reality because his premises support
his conclusion. St. Anselm's Theory is that if God is that which nothing greater can be conceived,
the idea of God must exist, if only in the mind. To exist in reality is greater than existing in the mind
(idea). Therefore God, being that which nothing greater can be conceived must exist in reality. All
his premises support his conclusion, creating a valid and sound argument proving that God must
exist.
Many still argue that neither one of these arguments prove Gods existence, because it is
impossible for our reason to accept them. In Soren Kierkegaards argument "Faith, not Logic is
The Basis of Belief, he argues that it is impossible to prove Gods existence because it is beyond our
reason as human beings to do so. Kierkegaard classifies the word God under the word unknown. It is
impossible for reason to know the unknown, so it is impossible to know, or prove God exists.
Kierkegaard also claims that reason on it's own does not attempt to prove God exists, he claims that
it would be foolish to do so. It would be foolish to do so because reason is from existence, not
towards it. Therefore if God does not exist, it would be impossible to prove he does,
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The Existence Of God : God
The existence of God has been in question for as long as mankind has existed and thought
logically. Many questions have plagued the human mind in regards to God, and there have been
many arguments drawn with the hopes of proving the existence of a supreme being whom we
know as God. The "God" question has been presented to every individual at some point in their
lives. It is a topic that will bring forth never–ending questions and an equal amount of attempted
answers. Many philosophers have formulated different rationales when examining the topic of God,
some of which include how the word itself should be defined, what his role is in human existence,
whether or not he loves us, and ultimately, if he even exists at all. Mankind cannot...show more
content...
Anselm in this case defines God as "a being than which nothing greater can be conceived"
(Anselm 30). Ontological arguments tend to be a priori, which is an argument that utilizes
thoughts as opposed to empirical evidence to prove validity. Anselm addresses the Atheist fool in
an attempt to disprove him "since the fool has said in his heart, There is no God?"(Anselm, 30).
Anselm stressed that it is obligatory to recognize God as a perfect being that cannot be improved
upon, and if someone understands the concept of God, then God exists in that person's
understanding. It is greater to exist in reality than just simply the understanding. The fool
understands the concept of God. Therefore the fool has God in his understanding. Suppose God
exists only in the understanding of the fool and not in reality. We could then think of something
exactly as it existed in the fools understanding but it can also exist in reality, and the being we
conceived of would be greater than the being that exists in the fools understanding. Therefore God
exists not only in the understanding of the fool but also in reality. By showing that God exists in
reality as well as in the understanding, we see that it is imperative that we should believe in God
and that it is indeed reasonable.
A cosmological argument focuses on the notion of causation and that everything in the universe
including us must have an initial cause, for nothing comes from nothing. Thomas
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Does God Exist? Essay
Does God Exist?
In this essay I am going to create a balanced argument from over the years which many people
have used to base their beliefs on whether or not God exists. Furthermore the topic of God is such
an important issue in the past few years due to the Iraq war and recent terrorist attacks. It is of
importance because in the Iraq war we have a predominantly White–Christian country occupying a
predominantly Middle eastern–Muslim country, each with opposing religious beliefs. Which if left
to escalate any further could spark a world wide uprising of opposing fundamentalist groups. All
because of this entity called, God. To prove whether God exists or not millions of people have
created arguments to sway a mind in what they think...show more content...
However atheist have a way to counter this argument with the use of a Geiger Counter. This is a
meter that gives the infamous "Click" when radiation is present in an area. Alerting the senses
that the area around them is radioactive. So far no theist has produced an instrument that makes a
"Click" or any sort of alert, even through prayer, that God exists. In defiance of needing some sort
of alert to prove that God exists, theists say "We can look around at God's creation and have all
out senses alerted by nature itself." This argument is relatively new to the philosopher's world
and it has been dubbed 'The Atheists Nightmare'. However it still relies on looking at nature itself
as proof that God exists. This argument is based around the idea that a banana carries the
characteristics of being created by an intelligent designer, simply because it is the perfect food
for a human being. The basis of the argument is that they are five edges around a banana that fit
exactly into the contours of the human hand. Which make it easy to grip and will not slip out of
your fingers. Another feature is that it is colour coded so it is easy tell whether it is ripe or not.
When the banana's skin is green it isn't ripe just yet. When the banana is ripe the skin will turn into
it's commonly known yellow colour, and when the banana has become over ripe it turns a black off
putting colour. God in his infinite wisdom has also created a convenient "tab" at the top
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Do You Believe? God? Essay
Do You Believe in God? Do you believe in a higher power that cannot be touched or seen? Some
people believe that there is a higher power known as "God" and others do not believe that
someone can exist that cannot be seen or touched. God is known to be "Infinitely good"
according to philosopher Saint Thomas Aquinas, but other philosophers such as Fredrik Bendz'
do not believe that a God can exist because it simply is not logical. Everyone has their own
reasons to why or why not God exists, but in this essay I am going to discuss why I believe in
God, the evidence, philosophical position that is closest to my views, and the possible criticisms.
In my own experience, I have to say that I do believe in God more than anything else in this
world. I grew up in a Christian home since I was a little girl and I have always been involved in
the church. Over the years I have found that many people have tried to explain why God cannot
simply exist because He simply is not tangible. In my opinion I believe this to be false because I
have learned that without God I cannot make it through the daily struggles that life brings me.
Even though He is not "tangible" I feel Him all the time and I simply go on faith that He is real.
Everyone believes in something that comforts them and that they believe happens to them when
they die. I believe that even though I cannot see or touch God I know He is watching over me and
keeping me safe. If someone were to ask me if they could convince me to
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Does God Exist? Essay
Proof Of The Exsistence of God Either God exists or He doesn't. There is no middle ground. Any
attempt to remain neutral in relation to God's existence is automatically synonymous with unbelief.
The question for God's existence is really important. Does God exist? Theology, cosmological,
teleological and ontological arguments are all have ways to prove the existence of God. With all of
these great arguments how can one deny that there is a God. There is a God and with these reasons
I will prove that.
There are two types of theology discussed in chapter nine of Kessler "Voices of
Wisdom," revealed and natural theology. Revealed theology comes from such sources as the Bible
and according to St. Thomas Aquinas...show more content...
Cosmological arguments were started at the time the questions of the universe were first asked. The
existence of motion to the existence of a first mover as the cause of movement, was argued by
Aristotle. This first mover he called God. The reason for this was that nothing caused God to move
yet God was responsible for the motion of all other things. Thisargument is based on presumptions in
other cosmological arguments. The first was that something could not cause itself, second something
cannot come from nothing, last there could not possibly be an infinite amount of cause and effects.
St. Thomas' view was of God is an infinite, all–good, all–knowing, all powerful, perfect being who
created the universe and now has sole command over it. This view is known as theism. St.
Thomas states that a first cause must be in order to have cause and effect now. For if we take
away the first cause there would be no effect following there for the universe would have never
been created which is impossible because we can prove the universe does exist. He also argues that
there are things in the universe that have the possibility of existing and not existing, we have seen
things that have existed and than destroyed, thus proving that there is the ability of being and not
being. There was a time when
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Does God Exist? Essay
Religion is something that virtually all humans have in common. In all corners of the world and in
all eras of history, people have wondered about the meaning of life, how to make the best of it, what
happens afterwards and if there is anyone or anything "out there." The world of philosophy consists
of so many unanswered questions. One such question is whether or not God exists. This is the very
question that has grasped the imagination of humanity since the birth of reason, and the same
question that has plagued scientists and philosophers without coming close to an accepted
conclusion. God is a word that means different things to different people. The definition for God,
according to most monotheistic religions is the creator and ruler...show more content...
William Paley presented the watchmaker analogy in his Natural Theology (1802) "Suppose I found
a watch upon the ground, and it should be inquired how the watch happened to be in that place, I
should hardly think... that, for anything I knew, the watch might have always been there. Yet why
should not this answer serve for the watch as well as for a stone that happened to be lying on the
ground? For this reason, and for no other; namely, that, if the different parts had been differently
shaped from what they are, if a different size from what they are, or placed after any other manner,
or in any order that in which they are placed, either no motion at all would have been carried on in
the machine, or none which would have answered the use that is now served by it." Paley wrote
in response to Hume's objection to analogy between artefacts and worlds, choosing to use the
example of a watch as a reliable indication of divine design. Paley identifies two features of a
watch which demonstrate that it is designed. First, a watch performs a valuable purpose,
timekeeping, which a designer would find useful and secondly, the watch would be unable to
perform such a purpose if it's parts were any different or arranged differently. He strongly argued
that the world of nature showcases more
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Does God Exist? Essay
In my life on this planet I have come to question many things that many take on as blind faith. We
all know that someday we will 'physically' die, Yet, we continuously deny the forces working inside
ourselves which want to search out the true outcome of what may or may not come after death. It's
far easier for humanity to accept that they will go on to a safe haven and be forgiven for all, rather
than to question the existence of a super omnipotent being. Fortunately, there are some of us who
tend to question the why's and how's that come before us. We question the creation of humanity and
the religious teachings received from our parents, our church and our society. This paper examines
the many rational arguments for and against the...show more content...
There is no idea behind the image therefore the image itself can't exist. St. Anselm's argument in my
opinion is reduced to just a statement because it really has no foundation. Kant also agrees with me
by stating that the argument is simply based on words and not reality. The ontological argument is
impressive to the average mind but to others it's deception is clear. With words like perfect,
necessary and existent that are built into it's definition, it seems impossible to be argued with. Even
if the theist could prove in some miraculous way this perfect being's existence, he still wouldn't be
able to link that "being" to being God.
TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS The argument for God's existence from design has also stirred
controversy among philosophers and society. It is said that the complex order and design of the
universe is obviously the work of an intelligent architect. In Psalm 19 it's written "The heavens
declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his work ". Theists have used this well known
argument(teleological) for thousands of years as strong evidence for the existence of God. William
Paley continued the argument of Socrates, Plato, and Aquinas. He said that if one found a watch in
a field, one would automatically conclude that it was made by a watchmaker because of its obvious
design. The
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Does God Exist Essay
God Does Exist!
P1: God is a maximally great being.
P2: If God is a maximally great being, then God is a necessary entity.
P3: If God exists necessarily, then God exists in all possible worlds.
P4: If God exists in all possible worlds, then God exists in our world.
P5: If God exists in our world, then God Exists.
C1: God Exists
My argument is a great argument. A maximally great being is defined as an entity who possesses
all favorable attributes such as love and morality. These attributes also include necessity. A
necessary entity is one that exists in all worlds and cannot be proven false, making it a favorable
attribute. A square, for example, necessarily exists. The square cannot exist in our world with only
three sides. Because it can't exist in our world with only three sides, it can't exist in all possible
worlds. Therefore, a necessary entity cannot be false, and...show more content...
However, this is considered to be logically absurd. By asking if a maximally great being can make
a burrito so spicy, that even he can't eat it, is to imply that the definition of omnipotent is the
ability to do the logically impossible. In actuality, the definition of omnipotent is to have a very
great or almighty power, not to do what is logically impossible. It is similar to ask if God can
create a square with three sides. The three sided square does not exist in this world. If it cannot
exist in this world then it cannot exist in any possible world because the square with four sides is
necessarily existing. If it cannot exist in any possible world, then it's logically incomprehensible
and cannot be answered by anyone. You can't use a logical absurdity to disprove God'sexistence
because the argument has to follow order. If my argument about God's existence has to follow logic
and order, then so does a refutation trying to disprove God's
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Does God Really Exists? Essay
Does God Really Exists The idea of God has been one of the most debatable issues since the dawn
of humanity and with it guided as well as deluded most lives in the pursuit for the truth. The impacts
springing from the notion of God has from time memorial changed history, inspired more poetry and
music including philosophy more than anything else, imagined or real. Peter Kreft once concluded
that "The idea of God is either a fact, like sand, or a fantasy like Santa" (Lawhead, p. 334). Over the
cause of time, different arguments have surfaced within and without the philoshophical boundaries
in an attempt to either explain the reality of the non–existence of a God. A few of these claims include
the, cosmological argument, the teleological argument and the problem of evil. However, although
both arguments are insufficiently conclusive in their arguments about God, the cosmological
argument seems to speaker quite louder than the rest and thus forms the basis of this paper: it
generates the conclusion that God exists based on fundamental considerations about the cause of the
world and why there is something rather than nothing. To begin with, teleological argument posits
God's existence based on the appearance of design. The Cosmological and the teleological
arguments are both based on empirical or a posterior reasoning and have their roots deepened in
philosophy history. On the contrary, the problem of evils supports the argument that God does not
exist based on the presence
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Does God Exist? Essay
Does God exist?
The question of God's existence is a perplexing one, the only evidence we have of God is what we
are told from those who worship him, and unknowns can be debated logically if a higher being is in
control.
It has been written that in the beginning there was man and there was woman, and God put the two
together to create a new race of beings. We are to assume then that God gave these beings asoul to
distinguish them from other beings, for example, plants. The soul is often argued to be a mystical
form that is immortal and can not be proven to be anything else.
Assuming this argument to be valid then God is a supreme being to have created humans. We have
several high beings that appear to stem from this one divine being,...show more content...
This leads to the argument for a heaven and a hell, an afterlife for the immortal soul to move onto.
Plato's cosmology dictates the Notion of Purity in the structure of the universe, going as far to say
that the Earth is round and beyond the stars and planets is a World of Being.
His reasoning is what is pure will rise above the earth, and what is non–pure will slip from it. People
of faith take this concept and say there must be a supreme being governing this process, thus God
must exist. It is Socrates metaphysics that leads us to two worlds, one of becoming, the other of
being. In the World of Becoming the body is most like the seen, and in the World of Being the
body is of the unseen, according to Socrates. In the World of Becoming humans are limited by
their body, whereas the World of Being consists of the mind and soul. Socrates believed to
achieve the World of Being one must die to free their soul, and he did this. Believing a true
philosopher is one who wants death he let it happen so that his soul could be free to learn the
truth of the portrait of an ideal form, free of limitations. People of faith would say that this is what
God ultimately did as well. God was a true philosopher who freed his soul. Unfortunately for the
philosophers who accomplish this, we never hear from them again. If there is a God, then he must
be a silent being that is diligent in his work. What we have are reasoning's on an
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The Existence of God Essay
The Existence of God
What we call religious experience can differ greatly. Some reports exist of supernatural happenings
that it would be difficult to explain from a rational, scientific point of view. On the other hand, there
also exist the sorts of testimonies that simply seem to convey a feeling or a peace of oneness–
something which most of us, religious or not, may possibly relate to.
Firstly, I will consider the nature of an experience. Experience involves encounters which are
empirical (testable via senses). We draw non– empirical conclusions about many things and people–
that they have orange hair and are 5 feet tall, that they are lonely and confused. These conclusions are
mainly...show more content...
This is known through testimonies of the recipients of these experiences.
In categorising religious experiences is helpful to look at them as explicable through one of two
theories: the objectivist thesis or the subjectivist thesis.
The objectivist view supposes that there is some object or actual entity– such as god– which exists
independently of the experience, interaction which causes the experience itself. God is described as
numinous. This is a term often used to describe the experience in which God's separateness is
highlighted. This was put forward by Rudolf Otto in his book The Idea of the Holy. Otto religion
sprang from experience of the holly. Because the word numinous has many associations he used
numen, something which is wholly other than the natural world
An objectivist would argue that the religious experience is a proof of God's existence. However,
others have criticised the reliability of religious experiences. The English philosopher Thomas
Hobbes asked how it was possible to tell the differences between talking to God in a dream, and
dreaming about talking to God. The objectivist thesis is ultimately the most traditional viewpoint
since it views God as 'object'– that is, something which exists independently of us (such as a table or
another person). However,
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Do God Exist ?
Thesis Statements 1. Because of man's ignorance and curiosity, arguments for the existence of God
have been made over the years. Basically, these arguments are divided into two large groups i.e.
logical and metaphysical. Actually, these arguments seek to prove that the existence of a being or
having faith with at least one attribute that only God could have is logically necessary. 2. Believing
and having faith in God will only resort to one thing–goodness. 3. Faith has something to do with
one's conception about God. 4. The existence of God remains a matter of faith since it's difficult to
"prove" God to someone who does not believe. 5. There are arguments that attempts to give
information of what they know about...show more content...
The analogy just doesn't work. Second, some say that the theories of the big bang and evolution
better explain the complexity in the universe. Third, some say that even if the teleological argument
is true, it does not prove the existence of the Christian God. 3. Ontological Argument
The third argument for God's existence is the ontological argument. This argument is unlike the
cosmological and teleological arguments in that it does not argue from evidence in the natural
world. Thus, it is not a "cause and effect" argument. The ontological argument can be stated in this
way: "God is the greatest being imaginable. One of the aspects of perfection or greatness is
existence. Thus, God exists." Or put another way–"The fact that God can be conceived means that he
must exist." This argument for God's existence was developed by the twelfth century theologian and
philosopher, Anselm. It is based on Anselm's declaration that God is "that which nothing greater can
be conceived." The ontological argument has been very controversial. Even many who believe in
God's existence question its validity. A contemporary of Anselm named Guanilo responded to
Anselm. Guanilo said that one could imagine a perfect island but that did not mean a perfect island
exists. Others have said you can imagine a unicorn but that does not mean unicorns exist. Thus,
many challenge the idea that
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God Exists Essay

  • 1.
    Can We ProveGod Exists? Essay Philosophers, whether they are atheists, or believers have always been eager to discuss the existence of God. Some philosophers, such as St Thomas Aquinas, and St Anselm, believe that we have proven that God exists through our senses, logic, and experience. Others such as Soren Kierkegaard, and Holbach, feel that we will never have the answer to this question due to our human limitations, and reason. The believer tends to rely on faith for his belief, and claim they do not need proof in order to believe in the God's existence. The atheist however, tends to lean more towards common sense and reason, such as science, or the theory of evolution for an answer. The determinalist for example believes that all actions are caused by nature,...show more content... Without this premises his argument would fail. It must be agreed to, because it is a true statement. You do not have to believe in God in order to agree to these Premises. In agreeing to these first premises, St Anselm forces you to admit that God does exist in reality because his premises support his conclusion. St. Anselm's Theory is that if God is that which nothing greater can be conceived, the idea of God must exist, if only in the mind. To exist in reality is greater than existing in the mind (idea). Therefore God, being that which nothing greater can be conceived must exist in reality. All his premises support his conclusion, creating a valid and sound argument proving that God must exist. Many still argue that neither one of these arguments prove Gods existence, because it is impossible for our reason to accept them. In Soren Kierkegaards argument "Faith, not Logic is The Basis of Belief, he argues that it is impossible to prove Gods existence because it is beyond our reason as human beings to do so. Kierkegaard classifies the word God under the word unknown. It is impossible for reason to know the unknown, so it is impossible to know, or prove God exists. Kierkegaard also claims that reason on it's own does not attempt to prove God exists, he claims that it would be foolish to do so. It would be foolish to do so because reason is from existence, not towards it. Therefore if God does not exist, it would be impossible to prove he does, Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 2.
    The Existence OfGod : God The existence of God has been in question for as long as mankind has existed and thought logically. Many questions have plagued the human mind in regards to God, and there have been many arguments drawn with the hopes of proving the existence of a supreme being whom we know as God. The "God" question has been presented to every individual at some point in their lives. It is a topic that will bring forth never–ending questions and an equal amount of attempted answers. Many philosophers have formulated different rationales when examining the topic of God, some of which include how the word itself should be defined, what his role is in human existence, whether or not he loves us, and ultimately, if he even exists at all. Mankind cannot...show more content... Anselm in this case defines God as "a being than which nothing greater can be conceived" (Anselm 30). Ontological arguments tend to be a priori, which is an argument that utilizes thoughts as opposed to empirical evidence to prove validity. Anselm addresses the Atheist fool in an attempt to disprove him "since the fool has said in his heart, There is no God?"(Anselm, 30). Anselm stressed that it is obligatory to recognize God as a perfect being that cannot be improved upon, and if someone understands the concept of God, then God exists in that person's understanding. It is greater to exist in reality than just simply the understanding. The fool understands the concept of God. Therefore the fool has God in his understanding. Suppose God exists only in the understanding of the fool and not in reality. We could then think of something exactly as it existed in the fools understanding but it can also exist in reality, and the being we conceived of would be greater than the being that exists in the fools understanding. Therefore God exists not only in the understanding of the fool but also in reality. By showing that God exists in reality as well as in the understanding, we see that it is imperative that we should believe in God and that it is indeed reasonable. A cosmological argument focuses on the notion of causation and that everything in the universe including us must have an initial cause, for nothing comes from nothing. Thomas Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 3.
    Does God Exist?Essay Does God Exist? In this essay I am going to create a balanced argument from over the years which many people have used to base their beliefs on whether or not God exists. Furthermore the topic of God is such an important issue in the past few years due to the Iraq war and recent terrorist attacks. It is of importance because in the Iraq war we have a predominantly White–Christian country occupying a predominantly Middle eastern–Muslim country, each with opposing religious beliefs. Which if left to escalate any further could spark a world wide uprising of opposing fundamentalist groups. All because of this entity called, God. To prove whether God exists or not millions of people have created arguments to sway a mind in what they think...show more content... However atheist have a way to counter this argument with the use of a Geiger Counter. This is a meter that gives the infamous "Click" when radiation is present in an area. Alerting the senses that the area around them is radioactive. So far no theist has produced an instrument that makes a "Click" or any sort of alert, even through prayer, that God exists. In defiance of needing some sort of alert to prove that God exists, theists say "We can look around at God's creation and have all out senses alerted by nature itself." This argument is relatively new to the philosopher's world and it has been dubbed 'The Atheists Nightmare'. However it still relies on looking at nature itself as proof that God exists. This argument is based around the idea that a banana carries the characteristics of being created by an intelligent designer, simply because it is the perfect food for a human being. The basis of the argument is that they are five edges around a banana that fit exactly into the contours of the human hand. Which make it easy to grip and will not slip out of your fingers. Another feature is that it is colour coded so it is easy tell whether it is ripe or not. When the banana's skin is green it isn't ripe just yet. When the banana is ripe the skin will turn into it's commonly known yellow colour, and when the banana has become over ripe it turns a black off putting colour. God in his infinite wisdom has also created a convenient "tab" at the top Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 4.
    Do You Believe?God? Essay Do You Believe in God? Do you believe in a higher power that cannot be touched or seen? Some people believe that there is a higher power known as "God" and others do not believe that someone can exist that cannot be seen or touched. God is known to be "Infinitely good" according to philosopher Saint Thomas Aquinas, but other philosophers such as Fredrik Bendz' do not believe that a God can exist because it simply is not logical. Everyone has their own reasons to why or why not God exists, but in this essay I am going to discuss why I believe in God, the evidence, philosophical position that is closest to my views, and the possible criticisms. In my own experience, I have to say that I do believe in God more than anything else in this world. I grew up in a Christian home since I was a little girl and I have always been involved in the church. Over the years I have found that many people have tried to explain why God cannot simply exist because He simply is not tangible. In my opinion I believe this to be false because I have learned that without God I cannot make it through the daily struggles that life brings me. Even though He is not "tangible" I feel Him all the time and I simply go on faith that He is real. Everyone believes in something that comforts them and that they believe happens to them when they die. I believe that even though I cannot see or touch God I know He is watching over me and keeping me safe. If someone were to ask me if they could convince me to Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 5.
    Does God Exist?Essay Proof Of The Exsistence of God Either God exists or He doesn't. There is no middle ground. Any attempt to remain neutral in relation to God's existence is automatically synonymous with unbelief. The question for God's existence is really important. Does God exist? Theology, cosmological, teleological and ontological arguments are all have ways to prove the existence of God. With all of these great arguments how can one deny that there is a God. There is a God and with these reasons I will prove that. There are two types of theology discussed in chapter nine of Kessler "Voices of Wisdom," revealed and natural theology. Revealed theology comes from such sources as the Bible and according to St. Thomas Aquinas...show more content... Cosmological arguments were started at the time the questions of the universe were first asked. The existence of motion to the existence of a first mover as the cause of movement, was argued by Aristotle. This first mover he called God. The reason for this was that nothing caused God to move yet God was responsible for the motion of all other things. Thisargument is based on presumptions in other cosmological arguments. The first was that something could not cause itself, second something cannot come from nothing, last there could not possibly be an infinite amount of cause and effects. St. Thomas' view was of God is an infinite, all–good, all–knowing, all powerful, perfect being who created the universe and now has sole command over it. This view is known as theism. St. Thomas states that a first cause must be in order to have cause and effect now. For if we take away the first cause there would be no effect following there for the universe would have never been created which is impossible because we can prove the universe does exist. He also argues that there are things in the universe that have the possibility of existing and not existing, we have seen things that have existed and than destroyed, thus proving that there is the ability of being and not being. There was a time when Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 6.
    Does God Exist?Essay Religion is something that virtually all humans have in common. In all corners of the world and in all eras of history, people have wondered about the meaning of life, how to make the best of it, what happens afterwards and if there is anyone or anything "out there." The world of philosophy consists of so many unanswered questions. One such question is whether or not God exists. This is the very question that has grasped the imagination of humanity since the birth of reason, and the same question that has plagued scientists and philosophers without coming close to an accepted conclusion. God is a word that means different things to different people. The definition for God, according to most monotheistic religions is the creator and ruler...show more content... William Paley presented the watchmaker analogy in his Natural Theology (1802) "Suppose I found a watch upon the ground, and it should be inquired how the watch happened to be in that place, I should hardly think... that, for anything I knew, the watch might have always been there. Yet why should not this answer serve for the watch as well as for a stone that happened to be lying on the ground? For this reason, and for no other; namely, that, if the different parts had been differently shaped from what they are, if a different size from what they are, or placed after any other manner, or in any order that in which they are placed, either no motion at all would have been carried on in the machine, or none which would have answered the use that is now served by it." Paley wrote in response to Hume's objection to analogy between artefacts and worlds, choosing to use the example of a watch as a reliable indication of divine design. Paley identifies two features of a watch which demonstrate that it is designed. First, a watch performs a valuable purpose, timekeeping, which a designer would find useful and secondly, the watch would be unable to perform such a purpose if it's parts were any different or arranged differently. He strongly argued that the world of nature showcases more Get more content on HelpWriting.net
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    Does God Exist?Essay In my life on this planet I have come to question many things that many take on as blind faith. We all know that someday we will 'physically' die, Yet, we continuously deny the forces working inside ourselves which want to search out the true outcome of what may or may not come after death. It's far easier for humanity to accept that they will go on to a safe haven and be forgiven for all, rather than to question the existence of a super omnipotent being. Fortunately, there are some of us who tend to question the why's and how's that come before us. We question the creation of humanity and the religious teachings received from our parents, our church and our society. This paper examines the many rational arguments for and against the...show more content... There is no idea behind the image therefore the image itself can't exist. St. Anselm's argument in my opinion is reduced to just a statement because it really has no foundation. Kant also agrees with me by stating that the argument is simply based on words and not reality. The ontological argument is impressive to the average mind but to others it's deception is clear. With words like perfect, necessary and existent that are built into it's definition, it seems impossible to be argued with. Even if the theist could prove in some miraculous way this perfect being's existence, he still wouldn't be able to link that "being" to being God. TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS The argument for God's existence from design has also stirred controversy among philosophers and society. It is said that the complex order and design of the universe is obviously the work of an intelligent architect. In Psalm 19 it's written "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his work ". Theists have used this well known argument(teleological) for thousands of years as strong evidence for the existence of God. William Paley continued the argument of Socrates, Plato, and Aquinas. He said that if one found a watch in a field, one would automatically conclude that it was made by a watchmaker because of its obvious design. The Get more content on HelpWriting.net
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    Does God ExistEssay God Does Exist! P1: God is a maximally great being. P2: If God is a maximally great being, then God is a necessary entity. P3: If God exists necessarily, then God exists in all possible worlds. P4: If God exists in all possible worlds, then God exists in our world. P5: If God exists in our world, then God Exists. C1: God Exists My argument is a great argument. A maximally great being is defined as an entity who possesses all favorable attributes such as love and morality. These attributes also include necessity. A necessary entity is one that exists in all worlds and cannot be proven false, making it a favorable attribute. A square, for example, necessarily exists. The square cannot exist in our world with only three sides. Because it can't exist in our world with only three sides, it can't exist in all possible worlds. Therefore, a necessary entity cannot be false, and...show more content... However, this is considered to be logically absurd. By asking if a maximally great being can make a burrito so spicy, that even he can't eat it, is to imply that the definition of omnipotent is the ability to do the logically impossible. In actuality, the definition of omnipotent is to have a very great or almighty power, not to do what is logically impossible. It is similar to ask if God can create a square with three sides. The three sided square does not exist in this world. If it cannot exist in this world then it cannot exist in any possible world because the square with four sides is necessarily existing. If it cannot exist in any possible world, then it's logically incomprehensible and cannot be answered by anyone. You can't use a logical absurdity to disprove God'sexistence because the argument has to follow order. If my argument about God's existence has to follow logic and order, then so does a refutation trying to disprove God's Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 9.
    Does God ReallyExists? Essay Does God Really Exists The idea of God has been one of the most debatable issues since the dawn of humanity and with it guided as well as deluded most lives in the pursuit for the truth. The impacts springing from the notion of God has from time memorial changed history, inspired more poetry and music including philosophy more than anything else, imagined or real. Peter Kreft once concluded that "The idea of God is either a fact, like sand, or a fantasy like Santa" (Lawhead, p. 334). Over the cause of time, different arguments have surfaced within and without the philoshophical boundaries in an attempt to either explain the reality of the non–existence of a God. A few of these claims include the, cosmological argument, the teleological argument and the problem of evil. However, although both arguments are insufficiently conclusive in their arguments about God, the cosmological argument seems to speaker quite louder than the rest and thus forms the basis of this paper: it generates the conclusion that God exists based on fundamental considerations about the cause of the world and why there is something rather than nothing. To begin with, teleological argument posits God's existence based on the appearance of design. The Cosmological and the teleological arguments are both based on empirical or a posterior reasoning and have their roots deepened in philosophy history. On the contrary, the problem of evils supports the argument that God does not exist based on the presence Get more content on HelpWriting.net
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    Does God Exist?Essay Does God exist? The question of God's existence is a perplexing one, the only evidence we have of God is what we are told from those who worship him, and unknowns can be debated logically if a higher being is in control. It has been written that in the beginning there was man and there was woman, and God put the two together to create a new race of beings. We are to assume then that God gave these beings asoul to distinguish them from other beings, for example, plants. The soul is often argued to be a mystical form that is immortal and can not be proven to be anything else. Assuming this argument to be valid then God is a supreme being to have created humans. We have several high beings that appear to stem from this one divine being,...show more content... This leads to the argument for a heaven and a hell, an afterlife for the immortal soul to move onto. Plato's cosmology dictates the Notion of Purity in the structure of the universe, going as far to say that the Earth is round and beyond the stars and planets is a World of Being. His reasoning is what is pure will rise above the earth, and what is non–pure will slip from it. People of faith take this concept and say there must be a supreme being governing this process, thus God must exist. It is Socrates metaphysics that leads us to two worlds, one of becoming, the other of being. In the World of Becoming the body is most like the seen, and in the World of Being the body is of the unseen, according to Socrates. In the World of Becoming humans are limited by their body, whereas the World of Being consists of the mind and soul. Socrates believed to achieve the World of Being one must die to free their soul, and he did this. Believing a true philosopher is one who wants death he let it happen so that his soul could be free to learn the truth of the portrait of an ideal form, free of limitations. People of faith would say that this is what God ultimately did as well. God was a true philosopher who freed his soul. Unfortunately for the philosophers who accomplish this, we never hear from them again. If there is a God, then he must be a silent being that is diligent in his work. What we have are reasoning's on an Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 11.
    The Existence ofGod Essay The Existence of God What we call religious experience can differ greatly. Some reports exist of supernatural happenings that it would be difficult to explain from a rational, scientific point of view. On the other hand, there also exist the sorts of testimonies that simply seem to convey a feeling or a peace of oneness– something which most of us, religious or not, may possibly relate to. Firstly, I will consider the nature of an experience. Experience involves encounters which are empirical (testable via senses). We draw non– empirical conclusions about many things and people– that they have orange hair and are 5 feet tall, that they are lonely and confused. These conclusions are mainly...show more content... This is known through testimonies of the recipients of these experiences. In categorising religious experiences is helpful to look at them as explicable through one of two theories: the objectivist thesis or the subjectivist thesis. The objectivist view supposes that there is some object or actual entity– such as god– which exists independently of the experience, interaction which causes the experience itself. God is described as numinous. This is a term often used to describe the experience in which God's separateness is highlighted. This was put forward by Rudolf Otto in his book The Idea of the Holy. Otto religion sprang from experience of the holly. Because the word numinous has many associations he used numen, something which is wholly other than the natural world An objectivist would argue that the religious experience is a proof of God's existence. However, others have criticised the reliability of religious experiences. The English philosopher Thomas Hobbes asked how it was possible to tell the differences between talking to God in a dream, and dreaming about talking to God. The objectivist thesis is ultimately the most traditional viewpoint since it views God as 'object'– that is, something which exists independently of us (such as a table or another person). However, Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 12.
    Do God Exist? Thesis Statements 1. Because of man's ignorance and curiosity, arguments for the existence of God have been made over the years. Basically, these arguments are divided into two large groups i.e. logical and metaphysical. Actually, these arguments seek to prove that the existence of a being or having faith with at least one attribute that only God could have is logically necessary. 2. Believing and having faith in God will only resort to one thing–goodness. 3. Faith has something to do with one's conception about God. 4. The existence of God remains a matter of faith since it's difficult to "prove" God to someone who does not believe. 5. There are arguments that attempts to give information of what they know about...show more content... The analogy just doesn't work. Second, some say that the theories of the big bang and evolution better explain the complexity in the universe. Third, some say that even if the teleological argument is true, it does not prove the existence of the Christian God. 3. Ontological Argument The third argument for God's existence is the ontological argument. This argument is unlike the cosmological and teleological arguments in that it does not argue from evidence in the natural world. Thus, it is not a "cause and effect" argument. The ontological argument can be stated in this way: "God is the greatest being imaginable. One of the aspects of perfection or greatness is existence. Thus, God exists." Or put another way–"The fact that God can be conceived means that he must exist." This argument for God's existence was developed by the twelfth century theologian and philosopher, Anselm. It is based on Anselm's declaration that God is "that which nothing greater can be conceived." The ontological argument has been very controversial. Even many who believe in God's existence question its validity. A contemporary of Anselm named Guanilo responded to Anselm. Guanilo said that one could imagine a perfect island but that did not mean a perfect island exists. Others have said you can imagine a unicorn but that does not mean unicorns exist. Thus, many challenge the idea that Get more content on HelpWriting.net