The Existence Of God Flashcards
What is a counter-argument to the design theory?
Darwin’s theory that simple life forms became complex ones through small evolutionary steps over hundreds of thousands of years.
Who is William Paley and what did he say?
He came up with the watchmakers analogy in which he stated that if you found a watch on a deserted island where only wild things lived, even if you had never seen a watch before, you would come to the conclusion that an intelligent being must have designed the watch.
What is the cosmological argument? (First cause)
Thomas squints in the 13th century adapted a Greek philosophers ration. It is the basic idea that everything that happens has something that caused into happen. This includes the creation of the universe which he asserted was caused by God. Who is omnipresent (has no begining or end, outside space and time)
Briefly describe the Big Bang
A scientific account of how the universe was made. Approximately 14 billion years ago all the mater in the universe was concentrated into a space about the size of a pinhead which was very hot and dense suddenly it exploded and the universe begun rapidly expanding. The universe is still expanding slowly today which is evidence the Big Bang happened.
What is the design argument?
The order and design in nature is too incredibly complex to be in existence because of random chance or a coincidence. Therefore there must be a creator, who is God. The beauty of flowers and plants are structured following mathematical patterns. Also the complexity of the human eye.
What did Isaac Newton say?
His thumb alone was enough proof for him that god exists because of its complexity.
What is the anthropic principle? (A modern day version ochre design argument)
God or an intelligent being must have planned or designed the universe so that everything was just right for human life to develop.
Why do some people say the world is not well designed?
Because of the cruel nature of things such as disease natural disasters (earthquakes drought famine tsunamis hurricanes). There is a lot of suffering caused by evil.
How might religious people have proof of God’s existence?
Through Religious and Miraculous experiences. Through prayer and meditation, acts of worship, in nature or because they see the goodness of god’s love in other people.
What is the moral argument?
The moral argument states that because humans are mostly good with a conscience and a sense of morality this must have come from god, therefore proving his existence.
