Existence of God the Debate

Existence of God

The debate regarding the existence of God has been around for many years. Over time, scientists, theologians as well as philosophers have all fronted arguments either in support or disregard of the existence of God. In this text, I form a position on God's existence based on the arguments fronted in the suggested readings. Later on in the text, I will examine the problem of evil.

Does God Exist?

The number of arguments advanced in an attempt to prove that God does exist are as many as those disputing the existence of a Supreme Being. Mostly, arguments against the existence of God point out at alleged contradictions when it comes to the belief in God. Some arguments in this category also point out at the inherent difficulty in reconciling known scientific facts with the existence of a Supreme Being. Philosophers like Kierkegaard believed that reason could not be relied upon to prove that God did exist. In this case, reason (as opposed to faith) is inadequate when it comes to issues relating to the existence of God and his promise of eternal life (Wolf 2011). In his opinion, believing in God was not rational and hence faith (as opposed to belief) in God was more appropriate. In my view and in the light of Kierkegaard's arguments, the existence of God cannot be explained by mere reason. Based on his very nature, God does not need physical manifestation to proclaim his existence. He manifests his presence through his works most of which cannot be discerned by mere reason or scientific inquiry. Hence in this case, faith in the existence of God is more important that actual proof.

However, some of the works of the Supreme Being are largely discernible through mere observation as well as scientific inquiry. This is the gist of the Argument from Design advanced by William Paley. According to this argument, the existence of God can be proven using the prevailing order and organization evident in the universe (Wolf 2011). The reasoning in this case is that only a creator who is purposeful, powerful and intelligent can sustain such a design. Here, the designer (who is God) is largely implied by the design (the prevailing order and organization in the universe). Thus based on this, God does exist

Yet another argument pointing to the existence of God is the Cosmological Argument by St. Thomas Aquinas. This argument proposes the existence of the first cause (Wolf 2011). In this case, there must have been something that triggered the existence of the universe. It is highly unlikely that the universe came into being by chance. That 'something' is God. However, for us to fully grasp this argument, we must first hold the view that the first cause was itself uncaused. Hence based on this argument, God does exist.

Further, my position that God does indeed exist is further supported by St. Anselm's Ontological Argument. The Supreme Being's existence in this argument is founded on the concept of the existence of a greater perfect being from the onset (Wolf 2011). In this case, our ability to conceive of a greater being is an indicator that indeed, it does exist. Basically, if something can be conceived by the human mind, then it is a possibility that that same thing does exist in reality. Hence there is a possibility that "a being than which nothing greater can be conceived" as highlighted by St. Anselm in Wolf's text does exist in reality. Note that in this case, I use the word 'possibility.' Hence based on this 'possibility', we cannot rule out the existence of God.

The Problem of Evil

One of the submissions which has widely been used to dispute the existence of an all loving a merciful God regards the problem of evil. In most religious texts, "God is omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), and all-good (righteous, loving, benevolent)" (Wolf 2011). According to this view, apart from being the source of all that is good, God has the ability to know and do everything -- including stamping out all evil. However, there still exists so much suffering and evil in the world. Calamities of every nature do occur occasionally leading to death, displacement and suffering of thousands of human beings. Further, human beings continue to suffer as a result of diseases, death and wars. If God is truly loving, why does he allow those he has created to experience pain, despair and other forms of suffering? Further, if God is all powerful, why does he not stop the occurrence of pain, despair or any kind of suffering from taking place? In general terms, how does evil and an all loving and powerful God coexist. This is the gist of the Problem of Evil.

In our quest to seek an understanding of God and his very nature, we are often dogged by these and many other questions. However, the Problem of Evil need not deem our view of the existence, nature and purpose of God. In my opinion, God chose to give us something of tremendous value without which evil could have been absent. This which God chose to give us is free will. Free will allows us to think as we like, to act as we like and to pursue whatever we deem fit. Hence should I decide to hurt another person, there is nothing to stop me from doing so. In a way, there is no way God can eliminate the evil that exists in the world without denying us free will. Hence it can be noted that evil in the world exists as a result of the human being's move to abuse free will. In the final analysis, it is the creature's freedom to choose evil that brings about evil in the world and not the failure on the creator's part to avert the same.

It is important to note that the greater good concept does bring to question the existence of natural evils. In this case, natural evils include but are not limited to earthquakes, diseases as well as floods that in one way or another also bring about great suffering to the masses. However, most of these disasters are triggered by natural laws whose operations are independent. In this case, it is important for natural laws to operate independently so as to allow the existence of free agents.