π― Evidence for Existence of God β Flashcards
ββπ§ POINT π₯ 1 π₯ π€ββ
βοΈβπ§ βThe universe is eternalβ No. Itβs not. π€¨ββοΈ
βοΈβπ§ God is the best explanation for why anything at all exists rather than nothing. God is the best explanation of the beginning of the universe. π€¨ββοΈ
βοΈποΈβ There was an event scientists call the βBig Bang. β β ποΈβοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Everything that had a beginning (or begins to exist) has a cause. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ The universe had a beginning. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Therefore the universe must have had a cause. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ The best explanation is an uncaused cause. A transcendent cause. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ That would be God. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
βοΈποΈβ Scientist agree β ποΈβοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Not only matter and energy, but space and time had a beginning in the so called big bang. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Out of nothing β¦. nothing comes β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ To say the universe just popped into being uncaused out of nothing would be worse β¦. than magic. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
βοΈποΈβ When a magician pulls a rabbit out of a hatβ¦ β ποΈβοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ At least youβve got the magician, not to mention the hat. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ But on atheism you have to believe that the universe popped into existence out of nothing which is surely absurd. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Seems far more rational to say there is a transcendent cause of the universe who brought it into existence . β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
ββπ§ POINT π₯2π₯ π€ββ
βοΈβπ§ God is the best explanation of the fine tuning of the universe and for intelligent life π€¨ββοΈ
βοΈποΈβ It was believed that by luck and chance that intelligent life could emerge. About 50 years ago. scientists are realizing that there must have been an extreme amount of precise initial conditions that were in place at the beginning of the universe. Meaning it is fine-tuned. β ποΈβοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Roger Penrose (oxford university) says βodds of the initial low entropy state of the early universe obtaining by chance alone is 10 to the power of 10 to the power of 123β β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Life is balanced on a razers edge. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ There are so many ingredients that allow for this earth to sustain life that it ainβt no accident. A little bit closer to the sun, we fry, a little further we freeze. Move any metric just a meter around the universe and we donβt exist. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
βοΈποΈβ Possible explanations of the fine tuning of universe β ποΈβοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Physical necessity - it had to be that way. There is nothing in the law of nature that it would make these constants to be so. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Pure chance. For the amount of time that the universe has existed the numbers of the probability is so large that it is not seriously considered β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Product of intelligent design. Most plausible β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
ββπ§ POINT π₯ 3 π₯ π€ββ
βοΈβπ§ God is the best explanation of objective moral values and duties in the world π€¨ββοΈ
βοΈποΈβ If there are moral absolutes then there must be a God β ποΈβοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ We are all tied into a moral absolutes. Those do not manifest on their own β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ These laws seem to force themselves on us β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ The harming of an innocent child for fun is always wrong, it is never good. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Every person who says to person abusing an innocent child βyou should not.β Using SHOULD appeals to a standard outside of both you and the person. Because a relativist would say hey man, I think thatβs wrong but what do you think? Cause itβs wrong relative to me but what about you? β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ It canβt be to just preserve our species. Some moral absolutes donβt preserve our species. Yet it does seem to preserve the individual life. Being a coward and not facing a dangerous situation is never celebrated. Rather sacrificing yourself for another or for honor or for meaning or an ideal is recognized more as an objective good. Hearing someone cry out for help and wanting to help them but fearing for your own safety are two different laws. Yet the one that suggests you βought to helpβ does not preserve you. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
ββπ§ POINT π 4 π π€ββ
βοΈβπ§ God is the best explanation of the historical facts concerning Jesus of Nazareth π€¨ββοΈ
βοΈποΈβ 4 established facts that are agreed to by the majority of scholars today that are best explained by the fact that Jesus rose again from the dead. β ποΈβοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ 4 facts : His honorable burial, His empty tomb, His post-mortem appearances, the origin of the disciples belief in Jesusβ resurrection β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Jesus laid in a tomb by member of Jewish high court named Joseph of Arimathea. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ That tomb was found empty by a group of Jesus women followers on the Sunday morning following His crucifixion β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Thereafter groups of individuals and groups of people under a variety of circumstances and at different locales saw Jesus alive from the dead. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Despite every predisposition to the contrary the original disciples suddenly and sincerely came to believe that God had actually raised Jesus from the dead. (His followers dispersed in despair and disillusionment.)
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Those facts are agreed upon by the majority of Nt testament scholars and historians β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ NT Wright - βAs a historian (not as a believer) βI cannot explain the rise of early Christianity unless Jesus rose again (from the dead) leaving the empty tomb behind Him.β β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ The best explanation of these facts is the claim that God raised Jesus from the dead. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ If God raised Jesus from the dead it entails that God exists β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Therefore God exists β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
ββπ§ POINT π 5 π π€ββ
βοΈβπ§ God can be personally known and experienced π€¨ββοΈ
βοΈποΈβ Aside from just trying to know God intellectually we can know Him through a real relationship β ποΈβοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Sometimes we can get so far into the mind that we get away from experiential knowledge which science has trouble explaining β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ For those in the Bible God was not a philosophy but an experienced reality that actually gave their life both meaning and direction β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
ββπ§ POINT POINT π 6 π π€ ββ
βοΈβπ§ ORDER and DESIGN point to an intelligent mind π€¨ββοΈ
βοΈποΈβ An example β ποΈβοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ You and I are standing at the foot of Mount Rushmore. Would you say, βwow! β¦. look at how the water went over those rocks and β¦. would you look at that, itβs George Washington up there! There was a storm the next day and oh my itβs Abraham Lincoln!β β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Water and erosion may explain the grand canyon. But ainβt no water and erosion explaining mount rushmore. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Designer jeans point to a design. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ You donβt get order and design by chance. Order and design point to a designer. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
ββπ§ POINT π 7 π π€ββ
βοΈβπ§ The anthropic principle. π€¨ββοΈ
βοΈβπ§ Anthropic means βrelating to human beings or their existence.β Principle means βlaw.β The Anthropic Principle is the Law of Human Existence. π€¨ββοΈ
From
βοΈβπ§ The anthropic principle is the philosophical premise that any data we collect about the universe is filtered by the fact that, in order for it to be observable at all, the universe must have been compatible with the emergence of conscious and sapient life that observes it.[1] In other words, scientific observation of the universe would not even be possible if the laws of the universe had been incompatible with the development of sentient life. π€¨ββοΈ
From
βοΈποΈβ Consciouness β ποΈβοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ The fact that we can understand the universe points to intelligent design. Us coming to be is one thing. But then becoming sentient and conscious of that fact points to a immaterial reality. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ The fact that we can understand the universe at all points away from scientific materialism. If the universe was completely random why would we know it? β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ There is no reason for humans in particular to become sentient in order for the laws of nature to continue. It is actually counterproductive to the betterment of human beings for them to become sentient. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ No conscious then no choice. No choice. No choice to harm. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
ββ π§ POINT π 8π π€ββ
βοΈβπ§ Life doesnβt come from non life π€¨ββοΈ
βοΈποΈβ Never seen life comes from non life. β ποΈβοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Never seen life comes from non life. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ An atheist believes that life comes from non life. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ That is a huge leap of faith for me. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ All of my observation tells me, animal life comes from animal life, plant life comes from plant life, human life comes from human life. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Never once get the animate from the inanimate. Never. Atheist says, oh but there is one acception to this. In the beginning, life came from not life. Incredible that you could be naΓ―ve enough to believe that. Because all of your observation is that life comes from life. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Never one time in your life have you seen life come from non life β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
ββ π§ POINT π 9π π€ββ
βοΈβπ§ Rational Mind π€¨ββοΈ
βοΈποΈβ Your rational mind points to a rational God. β ποΈβοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Ludacris to believe that the rational came from the irrational. It is ridiculous to believe that the irrational can produce the rational. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Charles Darwin - 1883 wrote a letter to a gentleman named Mr. Graham. βIf its true that our minds are simple developed monkeys minds, why do we trust them to tell us the truth about reality? Would you trust the mind of a monkey?β Even a smart one? β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ He struggled with epistomological nihilism. Canβt know anything, because your mind is an accident. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ No your mind is not an accident. Itβs so complex, itβs amazing. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Far more reasonable to believe that your mind comes from a rational being than that it comes from the irrational. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈ
ββπ§ POINT π 10π π€ββ
βοΈβπ§ Meaning π€¨ββοΈ
βοΈποΈβ You as a human being have innate meaning to your life. Youβre always attaching meaning to your life. We all are. β ποΈβοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Only way you can have meaning is if there is a God that created you for a purpose. No God, life ultimately meaningless. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ If life ultimately meaningless, you need to be committing suicide. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Albert Kamu, the great French Atheist existentialist philosopher said βthe only question modern man must answer is βwhy not commit suicideββ if you are atheist donβt believe there is a purpoose to live, then you arenβt be intellectually consistent and honest. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Innate drive for meaning in life is an indicator that God has left in you and in me that we were created for a purpose. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
ββπ§ POINT π 11π π€ββ
βοΈβπ§ Love π€¨ββοΈ
βοΈποΈβ Examples β ποΈβοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Our experience with love tells us there is more to reality than simple matter and energy. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Innate ability to genuinely care β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
ββπ§ POINT π 12π π€ββ
βοΈβπ§ DNA π€¨ββοΈ
βοΈποΈβ Breaking it down β ποΈβοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Charles Darwin pointed out that if anything is irreducibly complex, the whole theory of evolution falls apart. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Shows you canβt go from bottom stage to middle stage to top stage because of middle is missing then top stage never happens. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Mouse Trap - slab of wood, spring and a hammer. You cannot evolve a mouse trap from a slab of wood. Irreducibly complex. You have to have all three parts. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ Same thing with the eye. If something missing out of the eye it would not work. So many parts to an eye, if missing one part, wonβt work. β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
γοΈβοΈπβ»οΈ (living cell irreducibly complex. Canβt go from one stage to another to another then all of a sudden itβs a cell. Itβs irreducibly complex. Cannot devolve to one item and grow. Has to have all of the cell components at the start. They develop and multiply but not something different, the same thing.) β»οΈπβοΈγοΈ
