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Philosophical proof
Evidence strong enough to make other explanations unreasonable
Who is given credit for the Kalam cosmological argument
Al-Gazali
What is the problem with saying the universe has been “fluctuating” for eternity?
Current evidence does not show signs of future collapse
Anything with a beginning has a cause
The universe had a beginning
Therefore it has a cause
The external cause of the universe would have to be timeless and spaceless
kalam cosmological argument
law of casuality
anything with a beginning has a cause
Which problem of the kalam argument is normally attacked?
That the universe had a beginning
What is some scientific evidence for the beginning of the universe?
The discovery of the expansion of the universe and the the proof that any universe is expanding means there was an ultimate beginning
How does Dr. Craig argue that the cause of the universe is an intelligent being?
The only immaterial things that could cause the universe are abstract conditions or a supernatural being. Since abstract conditions cannot exist without their effect, the cause of the universe has to be a being who chooses to begin the universe
Deist who used to be a well known atheist
Anthony Flew
What convinced Flew to convert?
Teleological argument
Deism
God created the universe but does not interfere beyond that
Bertrand Russell
first in a modern day line of famous atheist philosophers
Why can’t time go back into the past forever?
If the past was infinite, we would never reach today
The most persuasive argument for atheism is often…
the problem of evil
Can God create a rock so big he cannot lift it?
no, it is not logically possible since God cannot be more than all powerful
“There is no real proof about God”
Ask what they mean by proof, and follow with any argument for God where they can be held responsible to each premise
Why can’t Christians say “That’s just what I believe” when questioned about their belief in God?
It puts Christianity on the same level as any unreasonable and irrational belief, it gives no evidence
Is evidence of evolution a good argument against the existence of God?
No, it does not affect God’s existence
logical response to the problem of evil
Plantinga’s free will defense: free will is given to us, but it entails the possibility of evil
Why is the problem of evil such a “strong” argument?
the emotional aspect
What is the best way someone can help another w the problem of evil
Actively love people in a way that allows them to process their emotions
Occam’s razor
If we can explain the universe without God, there is no need to believe he exists
Response to Occam’s razor
Use argument that shows God is necessary to explain the universe
Why are arguments like “I don’t like God” considered weak?
It doesn’t affect God’s existence
In Christianity, God provides the foundation for moral values thru..
love
Pantheists
Believe that all of humanity and nature itself is one
Is it possible for there to be more than one ultimate being?
no
“I do not know whether or not God exists”
undecided
“I cannot know whether or not God exists”
agnosticism
“There is no God”
atheism
Response to someone who claims that God must have a beginning
If he is the first cause, he must be eternal. If the universe is the first cause, it would also have to be eternal
Response to someone who claims that God must be both good and evil, since he has no limits
God is limitless in characteristics but he does not have all characteristics (or it would be pantheism)
Response to those who say a loving God would not allow for unbelief
Unbelief must be possible for people have be free. Relationships with love require freely choosing to participate
Problem with simply saying that atheism is the “lack of belief in God”
That would mean babies, animals, and plants are all atheists, which is not the case
Argument for atheism
The burden of proof lies on the atheist to show why suffering and God’s goodness are incompatible
How does the butterfly effect relate to pointless suffering?
What appears to be pointless up close could have huge effects on the rest of the world
Why can God not make His exact ideal world?
Because he gave people the ability to free will
“God lacks good reason for permitting the suffering in the world”
We are not in a position to say this, because we are not all knowing
If a maximally great being could exist in some possible world, then a maximally great being exists in the actual world
Ontological argument
If God does not exist, objective morality does not exist
Objective morality exists
Therefore God exists
Axiological argument
The laws of the universe are fine-tuned for life
This fine-tuning is due to physical necessity, chance or design
It is not due to physical necessity or chance
The universe is fine-tuned from design
Teleological argument
Everything that exists has an explanation for its existence, and it either exists contingently or necessarily
The universe does not exist necessarily
Therefore the universe exists contingently
Leibniz contingency argument
Note 
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