the existence of god

rs topic 3

Suppose I found a watch … we perceive that its several parts are framed and put together for a purpose

Paleys design argument that complexity is evidence of design

laws of nature govern the most distant galaxies … if there is no cause for this it would be … too extraordinary for any rational person to believe

swinburnes coincidence design argument

entities should not be multiplied beyond necessary

ockhams razor, a principle of the smallest number of elements being correct.

the fitness of our world to be the home of living … is suggestive of a formative principle

Tennants fine tuning argument that the universe is too coherent with nature not to be designed

the world …may only be a small part of a much larger system …hence the world might have a very different origin from the one which we commonly ascribe it

hummes objection that complexion may arise from nature or a much larger incomprehensible system beyond human understanding.

evolution, suffering suggests the designer wasn’t very good, there could be multiple designers even if there is a designer, that does not mean he made the universe

4 arguments against design

imagine a puddle thinking ‘this is…an interesting hole i find myself in —fits me rather neatly, doesnt it …it may have been made to have me in it

douglas adams puddle argument

the universe had a beginning and so there was once no universe, meaning it was caused by something outside of the univers, God

first cause argument

it is necessary to admit a first efficient cause, to which everyone gives the name God

aquinaus cosmilogical argument

what caused god, the universe could be eternal, just because things in the universe have a cause, doesn’t mean the whole universe has a cause, universe could be chance, the big universe could have a small cause

5 arguments against the first cause

while everything we know has a cause, we don’t know anything about events outside of our universe and so Aquinas’ first premise is useless

humes objection to the first cause

unnatural, positive, work of god

catagories of a miracle

a violation of a laws of nature

humes definition of a miracle

 she had tubercular peritonitis visited lourdes, saw a holy sight and she bathed in the holy waters and prayed to Mary the said 'I am cured' and she was

Marie Bailly

The primary usage (for miracles) should be in relation to the world as a whole … sparingly and strangely used…no miraculous intervention prevented Aushwitz or Hiroshima

maurice wiles : intervention would make god arbitary

god might not perform these miracles, god is transcendent, he only grants some miracles, he shouldn’t need to grant miracles as he created us perfect

4 objections to miracles

Epicurus

who came up with the problem of evil

Plantinga

free will argument

If there is a prophet … i the lord make myself known to him in a vision, i speak with him in a dream

special revelation quote

Nicky Cruz

who went from a gang member to a preacher through special revelation

‘in the abscence of special considerations the experiences of others are probably as they report them

swinburne on special revelation

if you see your mum across the street, you may be sure it is her and she turns around and it could be a stranger

Wittgenstein seeing as concept

if a series of events happen that make you believe in God, lots of circumstances could cause this

Jean-Paul Sartre matter of interpretation

3 children saw visions of virgin mary she told them to return every month and when 70000 people gathered, only the 3 children saw her

Story of Fatima

light from heaven flashed around him (the lord said) Saul Saul why do you persecute me

special revelation of saul’s

the heavens declare the glory of god; the skies proclaim the work of his hands

general revelation that nature is intentionally beautiful

the earth is the lords and everything in it, the world and all who live in it

god is the omnipotent transcendant creator