Arguments for the necessary existence of God

God

The necessary existence of God implies that God must in fact be infinite, perfect, omniscient and timeless. According to the theory of necessary existence, being is itself a divine quality. The theory of necessary existence is predicated on the assumption that God exists in the first place; the theory does not entertain the notion that God might not exist. Atheism has no place in the theory of necessary existence. Rather, belief in God warrants an exploration and explanation of the nature of God. That nature is absolute and independent.

One corollary of the necessary existence of God is also one of the strongest, most compelling arguments in support of the theory. That is, God necessarily exists because the universe of our senses exists. The world we see, hear, touch, and feel is directly dependent on God. God, on the other hand, simply exists because God is God. God is not contingent on a creator, but human beings are.

The very definition of God also has embedded within it the concept of necessity. If God is defined as an omniscient, perfect, and all-powerful being then of course that omniscient, perfect, and all-powerful being (a) exists; (b) is completely independent of any prior creator. A logical fallacy would result if the Creator had a Creator; the problem would be an endless feedback loop. If nothing else, the necessary existence of God encompasses all such feedback loops. God can self-create only because God is omniscient.

Some theologians argue that atheism is itself illogical. "We can conceive of the non-existence of computers and tables and planets, but not of God -- indeed, the very idea of God not existing is conceived as being logically contradictory," (Cline). Using an ontological argument, one can also offer a compelling case on the necessary existence of God. The 11th century theologian Anselm posited that God exists because "nothing can be greater than a being than which no greater can be conceived," (Oppy).

Descartes' argument in favor of the necessary existence of God offers yet another compelling case. For Descartes, to think necessitates existence. Hence, "I think, therefore I am."Descartes takes the argument one step further. If a human being can conceive of God, then God necessarily exists. "Since we do conceive a supremely perfect being -- we do have the idea of a supremely perfect being -- we must conclude that a supremely perfect being exists," (Oppy).

The definition of God as perfect also means that human beings cannot completely know or understand God. This is because, as Leipniz suggests, "perfections are unanalyzable," (cited by Oppy). If human beings cannot effectively analyze God, then God proves inherent perfection and is necessarily present as well as all-powerful. The fact that the human being even attempts to perform the analysis is also proof of the necessary existence of God.

Another case in point for the necessary existence of God is the fact that it is clearly impossible to prove the opposite: that God does not exist. If it cannot be effectively proven that God does not exist, then God apparently does exist. In fact, the lack of proof for atheism can be used as direct proof in the existence of God. "It is much easier to be persuaded that ontological arguments are no good than it is to say exactly what is wrong with them," (Oppy).

The apparent manifest multiplicity of the universe is further proof of the necessity of God. "Abstract objects depend on God for their existence, and abstract objects exist in every world; therefore, God exists in every world," (Davidson). The crux of the necessary existence of God theory is that God is most certainly not a being that could have conceivably not existed. The fact that the thought of God exists illuminates the existence of God, and thus, the necessity of God.

Central to the theory of the necessity of God is the conception of God not as an abstract entity but as a concrete one (Davidson). Therefore, the necessity of God can only be proven by a thorough definition of terms. When God is defined as a concrete being and one that is perfect, all-powerful, and eternal, then God necessarily exists. The very act of thinking about God makes God so. Whereas the human race is dependent on God, God is not dependent on anyone or anything. It is possible for God to be self-reflexive, but God could not self-annihilate. To do so would contradict the nature of God, which would negate the argument as well as the universe itself.