The existence of God and revelation - RE

The Design Argument

The argument that God designed the universe because everything is so intricately made in its detail that it could not have happened by chance.

Theist

A person who believes in God.

Atheist

A person who believes there is no God.

Agnostic

Someone who thinks that there is not enough evidence to know for certain if God exists.

What was William Paley’s contribution to the Design argument?

He used the Watchmaker Analogy. He argued that if you found a watch, its intricate workings would prove it was designed for a purpose. Similarly, the complexity of the natural world (like the eye or fish gills) implies a designer: God.

How did Isaac Newton use the human body to argue for God?

He focused on the human thumb. He believed the opposable thumb, which allows for delicate movement, and unique fingerprints were sufficient evidence of God's existence.

What was Thomas Aquinas’ view on the order of the universe?

He argued that only an intelligent being could keep the universe in regular order. He believed God holds the planets, sun, and stars in their set patterns and orbits.

Explain F. R. Tennant’s "Modern Design Argument.”

He argued the universe is "fine-tuned" for life. If forces like gravity or the strength of the Big Bang were even slightly different, life could not exist, suggesting the conditions were deliberate.

How does Evolution/Natural Selection challenge the Design argument?

It suggests that complex features (like the thumb or wings) are the result of species adapting over time through survival of the fittest, rather than being designed by a creator.

What is the "Problem of Suffering" objection?

Critics argue that if God designed the universe, he also designed "cruelty within nature" (pain, disease, earthquakes). This leads to the question: why would a good God create evil?

What is the atheist perspective on the origin of the universe?

An atheist would say the universe evolved naturally and was not created.

Which Bible verse supports the idea that God planned the world?

Genesis 1:1: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."