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Transcript
Three Proofs for God The Testimony from Existence, Intelligence, and Morality Cosmological Proof The cosmological proof is an argument from existence – why we have something rather than nothing at all. It can be stated in this manner Everything that begins to exist must have a cause. The universe began to exist. Therefore, the universe has a cause. The fact that everything that begins must have a cause is acknowledged by both believers in God and unbelievers alike. Even David Hume, an ardent skeptic, said: “I never asserted so absurd a proposition as that anything might arise without a cause.” What’s the proof the universe had a beginning? Consider the following: The 2nd law of thermodynamics – the universe, a closed isolated system, is running out of usable energy and therefore is not eternal. The universe is expanding, a fact proven by the Hubble telescope – it had a beginning. The radiation echo discovered by Bell Labs scientists in the 1900’s – the afterglow of the Big Bang. Huge ripples in the galaxies – proof of the Big Bang. Einstein’s theory of relativity – necessitates a beginning to the universe. All evidence points to the universe having a beginning and not being eternal; therefore, the only other eternal being that is possible is God. Teleological Proof The teleological proof (teleos – Greek for “end goal” or design) says the universe and earth exhibits marks of intelligence. It can be stated in this manner: Moral Proof The moral proof states that absolute moral laws exist, and that only an absolute moral law giver could be behind them: Every complex design has a designer. The universe exhibits a complex design. Therefore, the universe has a designer. Moral laws imply a moral law giver There is an absolute moral law Therefore, there is an absolute moral law giver There are two types of causes: (1) natural and (2) intelligent. A smooth stone in a stream would be an example of the first, while an arrowhead is an example of the second. Without unchanging, objective moral laws, everything descends into a matter of opinion and becomes emotive (e.g. “I don’t like rape” vs. “Rape is morally wrong”). As C. S. Lewis said, “A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line.” Three evidences for a design to the universe are: Evidences of an absolute moral law include: The anthropic principle – 122 cosmological constants that, if altered in any way, would cause all life on earth to cease. This world is “just right” and precisely configured for life. Irreducible complexity – many organisms are irreducible complex and could not have evolved. Specified complexity – entities such as DNA exhibit engineering and information, mathematically identical to a language – and no language has ever arisen outside of intelligence. Morals transcend cultures Morality is not relative – who wishes their spouse to be relatively faithful to them instead of absolutely faithful? Without God and the moral law, there can be no delineation between good and evil, so ultimately, there is no good or evil (as atheist Richard Dawkins has admitted). There is a difference between morals (what people are doing) and ethics (what people ought to do). A Natural or Supernatural Cause to all we know? Reason, science, and logic point to the latter. Copyright © Confident Christians, 2008 www.confidentchristians.org