College of Mental Health Counselling Arguments For and Against The Existence of God 1 - Arguments For and Against the Existence of God By Daniel Keeran, MSW Victoria, BC, Canada For the Existence of God DESIGN IN THE UNIVERSE 1. Human creative intelligence produces complex design. 2. Non-human design, including the precision of the earth, far superior and more complex than human design, can be observed in the universe. 3. Therefore, it is reasonable to believe that a superior intelligent power* exists in the universe. MORAL AUTHORITY 1. Determination of violations of morality require an objective judge and standard or law of morality. 2. Human ideas of morality, such as boundaries on sexual behaviour, differ among individuals, groups, and societies. 3. Therefore, it is reasonable to believe that an ultimate judge, authority, and source of morality exists to determine violations of morality. MEANING OR PURPOSE OF HUMAN LIFE 1. Human life and effort require an ultimate or transcendent purpose or meaning. 2. Human ideas of meaning or purpose differ among individuals, groups, and societies. 3. Therefore, it is reasonable to believe that an ultimate or transcendent intelligence exists to inform humanity of its purpose or meaning. HUMAN VALUE 1. Human relationships and organized societies require the idea of the superior value of humans above other animate and inanimate objects. 2. Humans are otherwise incapable of supporting a rationale for the superior value of humans. 3. Therefore, it is reasonable to believe that a transcendent intelligence exists who informs humanity of its superior value. HUMAN SELF-AWARENESS 1. Self-awareness and creativity exist in the universe, observed in human creativity and self-reflection. 2. Creativity superior to that of humans can be observed throughout the universe in which interconnection occurs in all non-human dynamic processes. 3. Therefore, it is reasonable to believe that a superior creative self-aware intelligence exists in the universe. COMMUNICATION WITH HUMANS 1. Corroborating witnesses report that Jesus of Nazareth was born of a virgin, changed water to wine, made the blind see, healed the lame, raised the dead, walked on water, calmed a violent storm, fed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fishes, lived again after his execution, and ascended into the clouds. They also record that Jesus fulfilled numerous detailed prophecies written long before his birth. According to witnesses and contemporary biographers, this Jesus also claimed to be the Son of God. 2 - 2. Accepting the above assertion as true, necessarily leads to the conclusion that a transcendent superior intelligence has communicated with humankind. 3. Archaeology shows the historical accuracy of the biblical record. Therefore, a superior reasoning power exists. ANSWERS TO PRAYER 1. Christians believe God can hear their thoughts directed to God, and they call it prayer. 2. In the world around them and in their own lives and relationships, they see answers to their prayers. 3. This is evidence to the one who prays, that a superior reasoning power exists in the universe. THE UNSEEN 1. Unobserved or unseen ideas are most important: consciousness of self and others, love, compassion, empathy, justice, loyalty, value, thoughts, and much more. 2. A superior reasoning power is unseen. 3. The unseen includes an existing superior reasoning power. MATHEMATICS 1. The whole of the universe is equal to the sum of its parts. 2. God is simply that which is greater than the sum of the parts. ALBERT EINSTEIN "My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble minds. That deeply emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible universe, forms my idea of God." -from The Quotable Einstein, Princeton University Press "I'm not an atheist, and I don't think I can call myself a pantheist. We are in the position of a little child entering a huge library filled with books in many languages. The child knows someone must have written those books. It does not know how. It does not understand the languages in which they are written. The child dimly suspects a mysterious order in the arrangement of the books but doesn't know what it is. That, it seems to me, is the attitude of even the most intelligent human being toward God. We see the universe marvelously arranged and obeying certain laws but only dimly understand these laws. Our limited minds grasp the mysterious force that moves the constellations." – from Einstein and Religion, Princeton University Press Against the Existence of God OBJECTIVE OBSERVATION 1. Only observable objects subject to the five senses, are real or true. 2. A transcendent superior authority (God) has never been observed. 3. Therefore, God does not exist. MORAL AUTHORITY 1. Moral standards are defined as whatever supports the survival of the individual or group. 2. Therefore, morality exists naturally* among humans; God is not required to provide a moral authority or standard. 3 - HUMAN VALUE 1. Human value is no greater than other life forms or inanimate objects. 2. Therefore, God is not required to support an idea of human value. DESIGN IN THE UNIVERSE 1. Human creative intelligence produces complex design. 2. Non-human design, far superior and more complex than human design, can be observed in the universe. 3. Therefore complex design is characteristic of the natural* observable universe of which humans are a small part. MEANING OR PURPOSE OF HUMAN LIFE 1. Human ideas of meaning or purpose are defined by individuals, groups, and societies as part of their natural survival strategy. 2. Therefore, human meaning and purpose exist naturally* in human thought and do not require a transcendent purpose or meaning. HUMAN SELF-AWARENESS 1. Self-awareness and creativity exist in the universe, observed in human creativity and self-reflection. 2. Creativity superior to that of humans can be observed throughout the universe in which interconnection occurs in all non-human dynamic processes. 3. Therefore, creative self-awareness is characteristic of the natural* universe; no superior reasoning power is required. * "Natural" or "naturally" is defined as that which can be observed physically.