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¶ … Existence of God
Philosophically there are a number of arguments that can be made in favor of the existence of God. When looking at the way in which planets, nature and human beings are put together, and when looking at human history, it is difficult not to believe there is a God.
Firstly, when looking at the physical universe, there is order. There are laws according to which things work, and according to which existence is ruled. The same is true of the universe of atoms, electrons and protons. Very specific scientific rules govern everything. This incredible mechanism for me speaks of an intelligent, thinking force behind it all. God is the intelligent creator of an ordered universe.
Secondly, order and rules can also be seen in the natural world on earth. The earth is the only planet in our galaxy that is known to contain life. The conditions on our planet are perfect for the existence of plants, animals and human beings. Everything lives because of, in relation to, and depending on everything else on...
Again, the order and rules here are put together in a very logical way, suggesting an intelligent creative force.
Thirdly, the nature of human life is a reflection of the divine. The most obvious argument that can be made for this is history. Globally, human history includes the worship of something. It seems to be an innate desire of human beings, no matter how ancient or how sophisticated, to worship a higher power. Even today, tolerance is preached for each way of worship, rather than atheism. If science were truly sufficient to replace religion, the last churches would have been closed long ago, but this is not the case. Science in fact, as seen above, only confirms the existence of an extremely intelligent creative force.
I'm of course not saying that any form of worship is the correct or only one. What I'm saying is that when one looks at the world and everything that exists, it is extremely difficult to deny the existence of some intelligent creating force behind it.
Arguments against God can also…
Atheist In "On Being an Atheist," H.J. McCloskey discusses what it means to him to be an atheist. In doing so, he criticizes the classical argument in favor of God's existence. This is not a new criticism, as people have been arguing about whether it is possible to prove or disprove the existence of God for years. However, McCloskey goes further in his argument against the existence of God by
God and Evil "If God Exists, then Why…":Understanding and Countering Certain "Proofs" of God's Non-Existence The question of whether or not God exists is central to many modes of understanding and systems of knowledge, both theological and philosophical, and the implications of the answer to this question -- and of the question itself -- are quite far reaching indeed. The very fabric of reality depends upon the knowledge that this question seeks
Nietzsche pressed humanity to realize that God is an invention of human creativity, and that we can no longer accept the idea of a divine being outside of ourselves. This was the center of his anthropocentric ideas. Feuerbach and Marx both held beliefs that agreed with Nietzsche (Jeff 19). Marx even referred to religion as the opium of the people. Kant's ideas of reason come back to haunt him
162) This solution also helps us to assert a response to one that might employ the existence of evil as a rational indication that God does not exist. That is, we are not any of us in a position of such divine knowledge as to discern how or why certain apparent evils may fit into the scheme of an inherently good and intelligent design. As Evans advises, it is useful
God was not part of the original pledge written in 1892 and adopted by Congress 50 years later as a wartime patriotic tribute. Congress inserted the "under God" phrase in 1954, amid the Cold War when some U.S. religious leaders sermonized against "godless communists." (Gearan) Works Cited All Things Considered. "Interview: Dr. John W. Baer discusses the history of the Pledge of Allegiance" All Things Considered (NPR reprint) 6/27 (2002). Baker, Tod
However, prayer is not simply a reflection of a request made of God; it also demonstrates the depth of someone's desire to attain a goal. Atheists fall to their needs and beg God when confronted with a dying child or other major catastrophe. Those prayers do not necessarily reflect a newfound belief in God, but the level of desperation and desire that the person is experiencing. Therefore, prayer reflects