Lesson 6 - The Existence of God

Question 1

What are the arguments for the existence of God that make use of the personal Absolute?

Answer 1

1. ) Only a personal absolute can make account for the objective norms of morality and rationality
2. ) Argument from morality

a. ) Argument from morality normatively -
- - human moral judgments presuppose absolute norms of morality
b. ) Argument from moral accountability

3. ) Argument from rationality
   - - argument from rational normativity
   - - argument from cognitive reliability
   - - argument from truth
   - - argument from logic

Question 2

Can God create a rock so heavy he cannot lift it?

Answer 2

• • Proper biblical understanding of omnipotence helps
• • Omnipotence does not mean that God cannot do things (God cannot lie, sin, forget things, break promises, self-destruct, etc.)
• • Biblical omnipotence says that God is perfect in power and nothing can defeat his purposes
• • Because God is perfect there are things that he cannot do, because that would limit himself
• • God cannot defeat himself (which is a sign of his perfection), so he couldn’t create a rock that he couldn’t’ lift

Same claim: Any rock that God creates he can lift

Question 3

What is a response to the “Moral monster” objection?

Answer 3

Response #1: This is not an objection to existence of God, but rather the way the Bible depicts God.

Response #2: The objection does not fairly characterize the God of the Bible

• • takes passages out of context
• • ignores patience, perseverance, love, etc.
• • ignores nature and depravity of sin
• • doesn’t show bigger story

Response #3: the objection assumes a non-Christian worldview
– external objection: God is being judged by non-Christian moral standards

Question 4

How would a presuppositionalist argue against Allah?

Answer 4

1. ) The universe manifests itself both in unity and plurality
   - - There must be both ultimate unity and ultimate plurality
   - - Therefore, Unitarian theism is false
2. ) God, as a perfect being, must manifest perfect love
   - - Perfect love necessarily involves love of another, not merely self-love
   - - Therefore, God must manifest love for another
   - - Therefore, God cannot be a uni-personal being
   - - Therefore, Unitarian theism is false