THE GOD OF REASON

What we can know about God even before opening up the Bible

God: A Common Objection

God A myth? A fairytale? A product of our wishful thinking???

God: A Common Objection

God – a subject of ridicule

The New Atheist Movement

Atheism increasingly fashionable since 9/11

The rise of the anti-theist “I don’t believe in God and I hate him”

The New Atheist Movement

Atheism increasingly fashionable since 9/11

The rise of the anti-theist “I don’t believe in God and I hate him”

Christian Response?

Bad Response “God is real because the Bible says so” “Faith is all we need to believe in God”

Christian Response?

Good Response “Actually, reason -> God!” Also, we can know something about God

through reason alone 3 reasons why God exists...

1. The Cosmological Argument2. The Teleological Argument3. The Moral Argument

The Cosmological Argument

An argument for the existence of God by our observation of the universe (cosmos)

Universe = space, time and matter

The Cosmological Argument

1. Whatever begins to exist has a cause

2. The universe began to exist3. Therefore, the universe has a cause

Implication: the cause is outside of the universe (space, time and matter), suggesting a Creator

The Cosmological Argument

3 conceivable reasons for the universe’s existence

1. It created itself out of nothing2. It has always existed3. It was created out of nothing by a

Creator outside of the universe (ie. outside of space, time and matter)

Can you think of any other reasons?

The Cosmological Argument

Objection #1: “Then who created God?” If the Creator of the universe transcends

space, time and matter, then God cannot be created

The Cosmological Argument

Objection #2: “Couldn’t the universe be eternal?” Infinite number of causes & effects is

impossible The universe is losing usable energy –

Second Law of Thermodynamics

Describing the Creator

Even with no Bible, we can say that the Creator is: Spaceless Timeless (or eternal) Immaterial Powerful (created all things out of

nothing) Personal (it made a choice to create

something out of nothing).... the creator is not an “it”!

The Teleological Argument

An argument for the existence of God by the observation of design in the world

Greek word “Telos” means design

The Teleological Argument

1. All things designed have a designer2. The universe shows evidence of

design3. Therefore, the universe has a

designer

The Teleological Argument

Common sense Complexity and order Science shows us that the world is

very complex, yet very orderly Complexity and order can be seen from

the microscope to the telescope Even atheists concede that the world

“appears” designed

The Teleological Argument

Evidence for design: The Simple Cell All living things are made up of cells.

Humans are made up of billions The “simple cell” is not really that simple

The Teleological Argument

Evidence for design: The Simple Cell All living things are made up of cells.

Humans are made up of billions The “simple cell” is not really that simple Every cell like a computer

Power supply Information transfer (within and outside

itself) Code interpretation Self-copying!

The Teleological Argument

More evidence for design: www.creation.org www.intelligentdesign.org

Describing the Creator

Even with no Bible, we can say that the Creator is: Spaceless Timeless (or eternal) Immaterial Powerful (created all things out of nothing) Personal (it made a choice to create

something out of nothing).... the creator is not an “it”!

Intelligent and Creative (shown by design)

The Moral Argument

1. If God did not exist, there would be no objective moral standards

2. Objective moral standards exist3. Therefore, God exists

The Moral Argument

Objection #1: “Moral standards are subjective”

“Don’t impose your moral values on me!”

True, only if there’s no God Right/wrong is a matter of opinion

Hitler ‘s opinion against your opinion

The Moral Argument

Objection #2: “God is not required for objective morality”

But where is objective morality grounded on?

Only survival value, no truth value Is dying to protect your family/country

wrong?

Describing the Creator

Even with no Bible, we can say that the Creator is: Spaceless Timeless (or eternal) Immaterial Powerful (created all things out of nothing) Personal (it made a choice to create

something out of nothing).... the creator is not an “it”!

Intelligent and Creative (shown by design) Righteous (shown by the moral law)

Romans 1

18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 

Romans 1

20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.