Existence Of God - UNIT 3 Flashcards
why would people argue that the teleological argument proves God’s existence?
Because:
-Evolution was part of God’s plan, God used the mechanism of evolution to create life.
-The argument is supported with inductive reasoning and posteriori argument.
-The argument is consistent with the scriptures: ‘His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen’-Romans.
-If we follow Ockham’s razor it says that the simplest explanation is often the correct one, and the simplest explanation for the existence of our universe is that there is an intelligent designer.
-The Universe looks designed (give example), and therefore it is reasonable to infer a designer.
why would people argue that the teleological argument does not prove God’s existence?
Because:
-There is no proof that the universe needs a beginning, maybe it has always been here.
-Believing that there is a creator relies on a huge leap of faith: ‘the universe was designed therefore it was God who designed it.’
-We may be very unlikely, but that needn’t mean that we shouldn’t be here. We are like lottery winners, just lucky to be here.
-Comparisons made to support the design argument are not accurate. A mechanical watch should not be compared to organic material.
why may some people argue that science fully supports the existence of God?
Because:
-Coppleston/Leibniz would argue that the existence of the Universe demands an explanation.
-God could be the cause of the Big Bang: the singularity that everything expanded from.
-Some scientists believe it is not a contradictory argument as God is the uncaused cause of the universe.
-Some scientists believe that the universe is not eternal and therefore it must have been caused by something.
why may some people argue that science does not fully support the existence of God?
Because:
-Even if there is a first cause why does that first cause need to be God? Science suggests that the first cause is the Big Bang.
-Our current universe could be the result of the end of a previous universe so infinity could still be an explanation.
-There is an argument that says just because we all have mothers that does not mean the universe must have a mother.
-Stephen Hawking’s understanding of the origin of the universe famously led him to the conclusion that the it explained it’s own existence: ‘What need then for a creator?’
