Philosophy of Religion

Philosophy - Existence of God

Many philosophers over the centuries have addressed the question of the existence of God, with particular focus upon the Christian God. Indeed, some have even suggested the demise of God, even while churches continue to flourish. This issue has in fact taken a prominent position in philosophical argument as early as Plato's time. Today, with religious diversity increasingly tolerated and even celebrated, not only the existence of God, but also the exact nature of this existence, is heatedly debated among philosophers and believers alike. From the perspective of the Christian, there are several arguments that can be held forward for the existence of God, and also to counter arguments against this view. Religious philosophers such as John H. Hick have gone as far as presenting "scientific" arguments for the existence of God in order to provide a more solid basis for today's believer. Others, such as Quinn & Meeker, present strategies that believers can use to justify a specific belief system in the face of increasing religious tolerance and diversity in the world today. Faith is presented with great challenges in a world that is increasingly materialistic and scientifically oriented. This however does not mean that there is no room for faith or indeed that human beings have lost their need for this element in their lives.

The Probability of God

Hick (26) suggests provides some arguments for the probability of God's existence. While the philosopher must acknowledge that preconception and pre-existing faith issues will influence the individual's assessment of whether God is probable or not, it is nonetheless useful to have this as a basis for further argumentation. The author cites Swinburne in the view that it is simpler to explicate an unlimited spiritual force than a limited one - in other words, the existence of God is a simpler belief than believing that he does in fact not exist. The fundamental reason for this is the fact that an unlimited force can absorb all improbability, while a limited force must also include an explication of what limits it, and in what respects it is limited.

This view can be demonstrated by the scientific example of the speed of light. Scientific theories tend to be built upon zero or infinite values unless there is strong evidence to suggest that this should not be the case. In this way, scientists initially believed the speed of light to be infinite until evidence revealed this not to be the case. When applied to theism, the assumption is that an unlimited, infinite divine being is most probable.

Arguments for the Existence of God

In Chapter 2 of his book, Hick (15-29) provides arguments for the existence of God that can be supplemented by the scientific postulation of his probability. To the Christian individual, the most useful of these could include the cosmological argument, which concerns the physical universe and the evidence it provides towards proof of God's existence, and the moral argument, which finds proof for God's existence within human morality.

The cosmological argument (Hick 20-22) holds that the ordered and perfect nature of the universe can only be explained by intelligent design. The main objection to this argument is the question of God's origin. The problem is that there remains an entity whose existence is not explained, whether the existence of God is taken into account or not. If God exists, the universe is explained, but not God himself. If God does not exist, the universe remains unexplained. In order to address this dilemma, several types of cosmological argument have been developed, two of which include the Kalam Cosmological Argument and the Argument from Contingency.

According to the former, the universe has a beginning in time, while God does not. As such, the universe has a cause of existence, which is the infinite God being. The infinite nature of God places him beyond time, space and the need for an origin. The argument from contingency holds that the existence of the universe is not necessary; its non-existence is a possibility. In contrast, God is not contingent; his existence is essential. Hence, as argued above, God has always existed, and was therefore in a position to create the universe. According to these arguments, God does not have a beginning in time, nor is he contingent. Therefore he is in a position to have created the universe.

The moral argument (Hick 28), in contrast to those above, focuses on the existence of human beings within contemporary society, and how morals are manifest in this society. According to this argument, the moral facts could only be as they are and in fact exist on the basis of God's presence. There are several moral arguments, two of which include the formal moral argument and Kant's moral argument.

The formal moral argument holds that morality is implicit in divinity. According to this argument, morality exists only because God exists. In other words, God created morality in the human heart. The basis for this lies in the fact that morality is prescriptive, giving guidance on how to live. Proponents of this argument then uses this as a basis for the argument that a being prescribes morality, which entails God at the basis of all moral principles. Secondly, the argument is that the authoritative nature of morality suggests that it originates from the highest authority known to human beings, which is God.

The Kantian moral argument is based upon the view that moral behavior is basically rational. At the basis of this rationality is the fact that it is in the human interest to behave morally as opposed to the consequences suffered from immoral behavior. The argument makes a connection with divine motivation by pointing out that moral behavior in the world does not always prove fruitful, while immoral behavior is not always punished. The intrinsic tendency to behave morally is then used as a basis for proof that there is something beyond physical life that inspires moral behavior; a reward that is greater than what may be expected in the normal course of physical life. In other words, God inspires moral behavior by offering the reward of a pleasant afterlife.

Arguments Against the Existence of God

According to Platinga (in Quinn & Meeker 189), one of the most prominent arguments against the existence of God is religious diversity, and the claim to truth of each fundamentalist religion, including Christianity. Indeed, Hick (30) also presents the argument that religion is the fulfillment of a sociological need rather than proof of divine existence. The fact that religion manifests itself in such diverse ways, and also the fact that religious experience is so arbitrary and individualistic, are used to argue against the existence of God.