The God of reason
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THE GOD OF REASON What we can know about God even before opening up the Bible
description
What we can know about God even before opening up the Bible. The God of reason. 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. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of The God of reason
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.
