This public lecture was given by Dr. John Oakes at the University of Stockholm in Sweden 9/5/2010. It discusses atheist arguments against the existence of God, why atheism fails and logical arguments for theism.

1. The Existence of GodThe Existence of God
An Argument for Christian TheismAn Argument for Christian Theism
Dr. John OakesDr. John Oakes
Stockholm, SwedenStockholm, Sweden
9/4/20109/4/2010

2. OutlineOutline
 Atheist arguments against the existence ofAtheist arguments against the existence of
GodGod
 The failure of AtheismThe failure of Atheism
 Arguments for theismArguments for theism

3. Arguments Against the Existence of GodArguments Against the Existence of God
 God cannot be seen/observed.God cannot be seen/observed.
 Hypocrisy of believers.Hypocrisy of believers.
 The problem of suffering.The problem of suffering.
 Atheism is the default position.Atheism is the default position.

4. God Cannot Be Observed:God Cannot Be Observed:
Therefore He Does Not Exist.Therefore He Does Not Exist.
 Yuri Gagarin, first man in space: “I didn’tYuri Gagarin, first man in space: “I didn’t
see any God up here.”see any God up here.”
 The Wrong God.The Wrong God.
 Electron, wind, consciousness, love, hope,Electron, wind, consciousness, love, hope,
beauty.beauty.
 Existence inferred from the observedExistence inferred from the observed
effects.effects.

5. Hypocrisy: The Evil Done by Believers ArguesHypocrisy: The Evil Done by Believers Argues
Against the Existence of God.Against the Existence of God.
 Evil has certainly been done in the name ofEvil has certainly been done in the name of
Jesus Christ. (Crusades, Spanish Inquisition,Jesus Christ. (Crusades, Spanish Inquisition,
priest abuse, us!)priest abuse, us!)
 But what is evil?But what is evil?
 Is this a valid argument? This is not even anIs this a valid argument? This is not even an
argument. It is a smoke screen.argument. It is a smoke screen.
 The difference: When a Christian does suchThe difference: When a Christian does such
things, it violates an absolute moral standardthings, it violates an absolute moral standard
he or she holds to.he or she holds to.

6. The Problem of SufferingThe Problem of Suffering
 If God is omniscient, omnipotent andIf God is omniscient, omnipotent and
loving/compassionate.loving/compassionate.
 Then, in view of suffering, that GodThen, in view of suffering, that God
certainly does not exist.certainly does not exist.
 Argument based on false premises.Argument based on false premises.

7. Suffering and Evil: Twin ProblemsSuffering and Evil: Twin Problems
 Assumes that a loving, omniscient,Assumes that a loving, omniscient,
omnipotent Godomnipotent God oughtought to prevent allto prevent all
suffering.suffering.
 Free Will.Free Will.
 Natural Causes.Natural Causes.
 Pain, physical and emotional, are not evilPain, physical and emotional, are not evil
or even “bad.”or even “bad.”

8. No God Is The Default PositionNo God Is The Default Position
 Says who?Says who?
 The majority of intelligent, well-The majority of intelligent, well-
educated, psychologically healthyeducated, psychologically healthy
people believe in some sort of higherpeople believe in some sort of higher
reality.reality.

9. Why Atheism FailsWhy Atheism Fails
 Based on Circular Reasoning.Based on Circular Reasoning.
 Atheism Cannot Answer the HardAtheism Cannot Answer the Hard
Questions.Questions.
 The Bankruptcy of Atheism.The Bankruptcy of Atheism.

10. Circular ReasoningCircular Reasoning
 One would have to be transcendent to knowOne would have to be transcendent to know
that a transcendent being does not exist.that a transcendent being does not exist.
Flatland.Flatland.
 There is no absolute truth. How do youThere is no absolute truth. How do you
know that?know that?
 Atheist scientist on BBC. How do you knowAtheist scientist on BBC. How do you know
there is no transcendent presence?there is no transcendent presence?
Answer: I just believe it is true.Answer: I just believe it is true.

11. A recent BBC broadcast forum:A recent BBC broadcast forum:
 Questioner: How do you know that physicalQuestioner: How do you know that physical
reality is all there is: that there is no God?reality is all there is: that there is no God?
 Response of a vehement materialist (afterResponse of a vehement materialist (after
much prodding): I simply believe it to bemuch prodding): I simply believe it to be
true.true.
 Questioner: Well, now we at least have it outQuestioner: Well, now we at least have it out
on the table!on the table!
 In other words, the strongest argument I haveIn other words, the strongest argument I have
that physical reality is “all there is” is that Ithat physical reality is “all there is” is that I
believe physical reality is “all there is.”believe physical reality is “all there is.”

12. Questions Science Can AnswerQuestions Science Can Answer
 When?When?
 What?What?
 Where?Where?
 How many?How many?
 By what means?By what means?

13. Questions Scientific NaturalismQuestions Scientific Naturalism
Cannot Answer:Cannot Answer:
(that Christianity does answer)(that Christianity does answer)
– Why am I here?Why am I here?
– Is that the right thing to do?Is that the right thing to do?
– How valuable am I?How valuable am I?
– Does God exist? Does God actDoes God exist? Does God act
(theism)?(theism)?
– Will that God respond if I pray?Will that God respond if I pray?
– Do supernatural events (miracles)Do supernatural events (miracles)
happen?happen?
- Why is there evil and suffering in the- Why is there evil and suffering in the
world?world?

14. If Materialism/Naturalism is rightIf Materialism/Naturalism is right
then:then:
 ““I” do not exist. Consciousness is just randomI” do not exist. Consciousness is just random
moving around of chemicals.moving around of chemicals.
 No soul, no spirit, no non-physical reality.No soul, no spirit, no non-physical reality.
 Belief in God is just a “meme” the unfortunateBelief in God is just a “meme” the unfortunate
accidental result of brain evolution.accidental result of brain evolution.
 Life has no value. Human beings have noLife has no value. Human beings have no
value. What is value?value. What is value?
 Love is chemicals moving around (vs. God isLove is chemicals moving around (vs. God is
love)love)

15. The Bankruptcy of AtheismThe Bankruptcy of Atheism
 Atheist “experiments.”Atheist “experiments.”
– USSRUSSR
– Red ChinaRed China
– North KoreaNorth Korea
– Pol Pot CambodiaPol Pot Cambodia
– MyanmarMyanmar
– French RevolutionFrench Revolution
Where will a society whose compass is setWhere will a society whose compass is set
by scientific materialism go?by scientific materialism go?

16. Arguments For TheismArguments For Theism
 The Moral ArgumentThe Moral Argument
 The Cosmological ArgumentThe Cosmological Argument
 The Teleological ArgumentThe Teleological Argument
 The Ontological ArgumentThe Ontological Argument
 The Argument From DesireThe Argument From Desire
 The Argument From ExperienceThe Argument From Experience
 The Argument From Changed LivesThe Argument From Changed Lives
 The Argument From the Inspiration of theThe Argument From the Inspiration of the
Bible.Bible.

17. =
God
We Cannot Prove the Existence of God:
Inference to the most reasonable explanation

18. The Moral ArgumentThe Moral Argument
 Do moral absolutes exist?Do moral absolutes exist?
 Is it wrong to rape a young child?Is it wrong to rape a young child?
1. Absolute moral laws exist.1. Absolute moral laws exist.
2. Such laws must be promulgated by some authority.2. Such laws must be promulgated by some authority.
3. That authority is God.3. That authority is God.
If this argument is false, then justice is a meaninglessIf this argument is false, then justice is a meaningless
wordword
Moral law is a real as the law of gravity.Moral law is a real as the law of gravity.

19. The Moral ArgumentThe Moral Argument
 That moral absolute existsThat moral absolute exists
implies a source of thisimplies a source of this
moral absolute, which is, bymoral absolute, which is, by
definition, God.definition, God.
 Do the words good, evil,Do the words good, evil,
right and wrong have anyright and wrong have any
objective meaning?objective meaning?
 If so, then there must be aIf so, then there must be a
metaphysical authority.metaphysical authority.
 Alternatives: Naturalism andAlternatives: Naturalism and
Postmodernism.Postmodernism.

20. The Cosmological ArgumentThe Cosmological Argument
1. Everything which exists has a cause.1. Everything which exists has a cause.
2. The universe exists.2. The universe exists.
3. The universe was caused to exist.3. The universe was caused to exist.
4. That cause is God.4. That cause is God.
Q: Why does anything exist at all?Q: Why does anything exist at all?

21. TheThe KalamKalam Cosmological ArgumentCosmological Argument
(William Lane Craig)(William Lane Craig)
1. Everything which begins to exist has a1. Everything which begins to exist has a
cause.cause.
2. The universe began to exist.2. The universe began to exist.
3. Therefore the universe was caused.3. Therefore the universe was caused.
4. God is that cause.4. God is that cause.
That the universe began to exist has beenThat the universe began to exist has been
virtually proved.virtually proved.

22. Accident or Design?
The Teleological Argument
William
Paley

23. The Teleological Argument
Evidence for Design in Nature
The Anthropic Principle
Boeing 747
Design or
Accident?

24. Physics:
The Finely Tuned Universe

25. .
000000000000000000000
000000000000000000000
00000000000000000001
Fine Tuning of the
Gravitational Constant

26. Fine Tuning of the Universe
Constant A Little Bigger A Little Smaller
1. Gravitational constant very short-lived stars no stars
2. Ratio of electrons to protons no stars or galaxies no stars or galaxies
3. Strong Nuclear Force no hydrogen, fusion only hydrogen
4. Weak Nuclear Force all H2
 He at big bang no He at big bang
no heavy elements
5. Electric Force no chemical bonding no chemical bonding
6. Expansion rate of universe no galaxies universe collapses quickly
7. Ratio of matter to antimatter too much radiation for life not enough matter
for galaxies to form
and many more….

27. Fred Hoyle on Fine-Fred Hoyle on Fine-
TuningTuning
“… a super-intellect has monkeyed with
physics, as well as with chemistry and
biology.”

28. The Ontological ArgumentThe Ontological Argument
 Anselm of Canterbury 1077Anselm of Canterbury 1077
 God is the thing “that than whichGod is the thing “that than which
nothing greater can exist.”nothing greater can exist.”

Questionable value as apologeticsQuestionable value as apologetics

29. The Argument From Desire (C. S.The Argument From Desire (C. S.
Lewis)Lewis)
 Every known human desire has aEvery known human desire has a
corresponding real thing which can fulfillcorresponding real thing which can fulfill
that desire.that desire.
 The desire to know God and ultimate truthThe desire to know God and ultimate truth
is as basic as any human desire.is as basic as any human desire.
 Therefore God, the object of that desire,Therefore God, the object of that desire,
exists.exists.

30. The Argument FromThe Argument From
Experience/Changed LivesExperience/Changed Lives
 Tens of millions of rational, well educatedTens of millions of rational, well educated
people have experienced God throughpeople have experienced God through
prayer, revelation, etc.prayer, revelation, etc.
 Changed lives: For what it is worth,Changed lives: For what it is worth,
Christianity works.Christianity works.
– Marriages savedMarriages saved
– Lives lived with purpose and meaningLives lived with purpose and meaning

31. Argument From the Inspiration of theArgument From the Inspiration of the
BibleBible
 If the Bible is supernaturally inspired,If the Bible is supernaturally inspired,
then God exists.then God exists.
– Fulfilled prophecyFulfilled prophecy
– Fulfilled prefigure and foreshadowFulfilled prefigure and foreshadow
– ConsistencyConsistency
– Historical/Archaeological accuracyHistorical/Archaeological accuracy
– Scientific accuracyScientific accuracy
– It worksIt works