The Existence of God ARBOR OAKS BIBLE CHAPEL JANUARY 2016

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1 The Existence of God ARBOR OAKS BIBLE CHAPEL JANUARY 2016

2 The Existence of God Clarifying Terms A skeptic says: I doubt that God exists An agnostic says: I don t (or can t) know if God exists. An atheist says: I know God does not exist.

3 The New Atheists

4 The Existence of God It is impossible to prove atheism. Requires omniscience

5 Talking with Atheists Illustration: Library of Congress in Washington D.C. Contains over 70 million items (books, magazines, journals, etc.). Many written by scholars and specialists in the various academic fields. Ask the following question: "What percentage of the knowledge recorded in the volumes in this library would you say is within your pool of knowledge and experience?" The atheist will likely respond, "I don't know. I guess a fraction of one percent." Then ask: "Do you think it is logically possible that God may exist in the 99.9 percent that is outside your pool of knowledge and experience?"

6 Making a Case for God Romans 1:19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,1 in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (ESV)

7 Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

8 Making a Case for God 1. The Cosmological Argument Argument from cause and effect The kalam form of the argument: Whatever begins to exist has a cause The universe began to exist Therefore, the universe has a cause

9 Making a Case for God 2. The Teleological Argument Argument from design The Intelligent Design movement (ID) has advanced the argument from design at the scientific level

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11 Dawkins Central Argument 1. One of the greatest challenges to the human intellect, over the centuries, has been to explain how the complex, improbable appearance of design in the universe arises. 2. The natural temptation is to attribute the appearance of design to actual design itself (e.g. a watch, eye, wing, spider, person).

12 Dawkins Central Argument 3. The temptation is a false one, because the designer hypothesis immediately raises the larger problem of who designed the designer It is obviously no solution to postulate something even more improbable. 4. The most ingenious and powerful explanation is Darwinian evolution by natural selection We can now safely say that the illusion of design in living creatures is just that an illusion.

13 Dawkins Central Argument Therefore God almost certainly does not exist. Evaluation?

14 Stonehenge

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16 Making a Case for God 3. The Moral Argument Universal sense of right and wrong. Where does it come from?

17 Making a Case for God 4. The Anthropological Argument Human intelligence, rationality, language, spirituality The need for meaning, purpose, love, hope All these things are incompatible with materialism

18 Responding to Objections There is no God. But many people believe in God. Why? Because they want to be comforted. So they project or objectify their longings and call this God. So this nonexistent God is simply the projection of human longings. Ludwig Feuerbach

19 How would you respond? Wanting something does not prove it does not exist. Human thirst points for the need for water.

20 Alister McGrath: All worldviews are a response to human needs and desires including, of course, atheism, which can be seen as a response to the human desire for moral autonomy.

21 Responding to Objections Getting rid of religion in favor of Darwinian science will create a better world (less evil, war, etc.) Under (atheistic) Soviet communism it is estimated that between 85 and 100 million people were executed Darwinian theory was foundational to Nazism McGrath: The 20th century gave rise to one of the greatest and most distressing paradoxes of human history: that the greatest intolerance and violence of the century were practiced by those who believed that religion caused intolerance and violence. The Christian faith explains the presence of evil and points to the solution in the gospel