arguments for God's existence

• What are the main arguments for God's existence:

  • Teleological argument
  • Cosmological argument
  • Anthropic argument
• What is the teleological argument?

  The idea that if you found a mechanical watch in a forest you would assume someone made it because of its complexity - the universe is to intricately designed to come from nowhere. It had a maker; God.
• What is the cosmological argument?

  The idea that like dominos that need someone to push them in order to fall, the universe needed a cause to propel it into action; God.
• Who suggested the cosmological argument?

  Thomas Aquinas
• Who suggested the teleological argument?

  William Paley
• Support of the teleological argument:

  "In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God's existence" - Sir Isaac Newton (famous Christian)
• Problem with teleological argument:

  John Stewart Mill says that there is cruelty in the natural world so that is evidence of a bad designer.
• Evidence for the teleological argument:

  "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb."
• Evidence for cosmological argument:

  "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."
• Evidence for Anthropic argument:

  "Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky."
• Problems with the cosmological argument:

  It is based on the assumption that everything has a cause so how can God not have a cause too. It contradicts itself.
• Premises of the cosmological argument

  • Everything has a cause
  • First cause needs to be caused by something without a cause
  • First, uncaused causer is God
• Explain the anthropic argument.

  Universe is perfectly structured for evolution and development of life. God has guided evolution to form humans who are complex. Chance for life in the universe is very small so human existence is not by chance and is crafted by God.
• What are the problems with the anthropic argument?

  It is very egocentric view of the universe. What about all it's other elements, (stars, animals, other planets?) If it was made perfectly only for humans why isn't it nicer?