“Arguments for God, Part 1 (Ontological, Cosmological)

Series- Tracing Truth: From Worldviews to the Risen Christ

Arguments for God, Part 1 (Ontological, Cosmological)

Classical Arguments for God’s Existence

The Ontological Argument (Anselm of Canterbury)

Basic Argument:

1. God is a being than which no greater can be conceived.
2. A god that does not cannot be the greatest concept, as would make this concept greater.
3. Therefore, the very concept of God His existence.

Problems:

The Cosmological Arguments (Thomas Aquinas)

Argument from

1. Objects are in motion.
2. Everything in motion was put into motion by something else.
3. There can’t be an infinite regress of movers.
4. Therefore, there must be a first Mover, itself unmoved (God).

Argument from

1. Somethings are caused.
2. Anything that’s caused has to be caused by something else since nothing causes itself.
3. There can’t be an infinite regress of causes.
4. So, there must have been a first causer, itself uncaused. (God)

Argument from

1. There are contingent things
2. Contingent things can cause other contingent things
3. There can’t only be contingent things, because that would mean an infinite regress of contingency and a possibility that nothing might have existed.
4. An infinite regress is impossible.
5. There must be at least one necessary thing (God).

Argument from

1. Properties come in degrees.
2. In order for there to be degrees of perfection, there must be something perfect against which everything else is measured.
3. God is the pinnacle of perfection.

Problems with the Cosmological Arguments:

Things to remember: