Simple Theology:  Arguments for God's Existence

Four Key Arguments - Super Simplified:

1. Ontological Argument (Argument From Being)

(ontos = being)

a. since we can imagine or conceive of God

b. He must exist

c. because we can't conceive of things that don't exist *

Put another way:

a. nothing greater than God can be imagined or conceived of

b. so He must have the characteristics / properties of being since we can conceive of Him

* Every idea people come up with using their imagination (i.e. sci fi stories, etc.) still has a root from something known upon which it is being built.

2. Cosmological Argument (Argument From Creation)

(cosmo = apt and harmonious arrangement)

Note: 'cosmos' is a term used for the universe because of its orderly arrangement

a. every known thing in the universe has a beginning* (is an effect, the result of something)

b. so every known thing must have a cause

c. an infinite regression back to causes is impossible

d. so a first cause - God - must exist

* Argument the universe had a beginning: its movement outward proves it had a beginning because it can't eternally regress backwards.

3. Teleological Argument (Argument From Design)

(teleo = end, goal, purpose) Intelligent Design

a. the Anthropic Principle: mankind sees order, design, and purpose in the universe (there are evidences it is perfectly fine-tuned to allow for life to exist)

b. so everything must have a Designer - God

4. Moral Argument (Argument From Morality)

(moral = pertaining to character, manners, conduct, ethic)

a. there are objective moral laws mankind instinctively lives by (mankind has a pervading sense of right and wrong - a conscience)

b. there is a universal desire for justice

c. so there must be a Law Giver - God - the Source of knowledge about what is right and wrong

Additional Arguments:

a. Dogmatical or Doctrinal Argument

(dogmatical / doctrinal = in this definition - divine truth, authoritative)

a. the Bible is truth (it contains content to justify itself as inerrant, infallible truth)

b. in the Bible God reveals His existence

b. Transcendental Argument

(transcendental = existing outside of or not in accordance with nature, concerned with intuitive basis of knowledge independent of experience)

a. a known / acknowledged point

b. always has a necessary precondition / presupposition

To apply this:

Any argument against God's existence necessarily contains the precondition / presupposition of the existence of God - to be able to be argued against.