Proof's for God

by: John P. Hubert MD

Over 20 arguments or "Proofs" have been developed throughout history for the existence of a supreme being,(God). In general, these proofs usually take the form of 4 or 5 basic types, with variation(s) on those. Kreeft and Tacelli have outlined 20 such arguments in their work, "Handbook of Christian Apologetics",(1). While these "proofs" cannot establish with 100% certainty that God exists, cumulatively, they provide great plausibility for His existence, or high probability. In other words, they establish beyond reasonable doubt that God exists, what is termed proof practical, not proof absolute. Astrophysicist and Mathematician Hugh Ross has suggested that Human Beings can never appreciate phenomena in dimensions not appreciable by the 5 senses, (2). This is a mathematical reality based on the concept that it is necessary to "transcend" a system or universe in order to fully apprehend it. Austrian mathematician Kurt Godel's incompleteness theorems as well as Werner Heidelberg's' Uncertainty Principle have been utilized to help explain this concept, (3). Ergo, in order to fully understand our universe, it would be necessary to transcend it. As Human Beings, we are unable to do this. Therefore, we must settle for incomplete knowledge, so called proof practical. The proofs presented in this essay are derived by virtue of reason, that is, cognitive activity employing calculation, judgment, and consideration of facts. They quite properly fall under the domain of philosophy, which considers the foundation of knowledge, that is how we "know" what we know. Some Christians and skeptics purport that it is useless to debate the issue of whether God exists or not, since it can not be known with absolute (100%) certainty on this side of the veil (of existence). The author posits that it is a mistake to assume that this is true. We commonly make decisions and assumptions on far less important matters in every day life, despite possessing incomplete knowledge. Therefore, it would seem appropriate to do so with something of much greater import. As Pascal has suggested in the Penses, agnosticism or if you will indecision, is not an option, given that we all face death, which limits our time in which to decide the case, one way or another (4). While it is true that some are blessed with the ability to believe in God without the consideration of arguments such as these, all are not so fortunate. As Christians, we must be prepared to present the case for Theism in general, and Christianity in particular, in order that those who will be aided by these proofs receive it. The following list includes 20 "proofs" for the existence of a supreme being. The details of each are considered in subsequent essays. 1.) The argument from Change 2.) The argument from Efficient Causality 3.) The argument from Time and Contingency 4.) The argument from Degrees of Perfection 5.) The Design (Teleological) argument 6.) The Cosmological argument (Kalam) modification 7.) The argument from Contingency 8.) The argument from the World as an Interacting Whole 9.) The argument from Miracles 10.) The argument from Consciousness 11.) The argument from Truth 12.) The argument from the Origin of the Idea of God 13.) The Ontological argument 14.) The Moral argument 15.) The argument from Conscience 16.) The argument from Desire 17.) The argument from Aesthetic Experience 18.) The argument from Religious Experience 19.) The Common Consent Argument 20.) Pascal's Wager (Not a real argument for the existence of God, but of the reasonableness of a belief in Him),(5). Ref.: 1.) Kreeft, Peter, and Ronald K. Tacelli, "The Handbook of Christian Apologetics": Hundreds of Answers to Crucial Questions. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1994. 2.) Ross, Hugh, "Beyond the Cosmos". Colorado Springs, Colo.: NavPress, 1996. 3.) Ibid 4.) Kreeft, Peter, "Christianity for Modern Pagans": Pascal's Penses. San Francisco: Ignatius, 1993. 5.) Ibid

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