The 3 Classical Arguments for the Existence of God*

Question 1

List and present the 3 arguments (Cosmological).

Answer 1

Every event must have a cause.
The series of causes cannot be infinite.
There must be a first cause, which is God.

Question 2

List and present the 3 arguments (Ontological).

Answer 2

God is defined as the most perfect being.
To exist is more perfect than to not exist.
God must exist.

Question 3

List and present the 3 arguments (Teleological).

Answer 3

The universe is similar to a watch in that they both exhibit order involving a congruence of parts and an adjustment of means to end.
The watch has a watch-maker.
The universe has a universe-maker which is God.

Question 4

Present a response to each of the classical arguments (Cosmological).

Answer 4

If everything must have a cause, why doesn’t god require one?
Why can’t the universe be self-caused (or have always existed)?
An infinite series of events is not inconceivable or absurd.

Question 5

Present a response to each of the classical arguments (Ontological).

Answer 5

Existence is different from other attributes.
-Adding existence to the concept of a thing doesn’t add to its perfection, for the concept is still the same.
Cannot define something into existence.

Question 6

Present a response to each of the classical arguments (Teleological).

Answer 6

Disanalogy between the watch and the universe.
-We have direct access to the processes that bring the watch into creation, which we lack for the universe.
We can account for the order in the universe without invoking an intelligent designer.