Guest blogger Marty Clapp answers the skeptics: Is there really a God?
COSMOLOGY (Universe)
Memorization tool: B.E.G.A.N.- We want to know how the universe began.
-BEGINNING- Scientists now know that the universe has not always existed. Cosmologists tell us that space, matter, and time literally had a beginning.
-EXPLOSION- (Some of the problems with postulating the Big Bang theory as a “God-substitute”)
(question 1)- What caused the “original matter” to suddenly explode after existing eternally in a state of balance, equilibrium, and stability? Why would it suddenly become unstable? (consider the laws of inertia and the law of causality).
(question 2)- What kind of cause best explains this? There are two types of “causes” = “natural causes” (caused by something), and “intelligent causes” (caused by someone). Consider the following:
(2a) If everything simply exploded from some original material source, why are stars and planets so different from each other? Why are the planets themselves so different from each other? Wouldn’t we expect more similarity if they all originated from the same material source?
(2b) Explosions have a natural tendency to disorganize, not to organize. Yet, the universe, our solar system, and planet earth show a high degree of order and precision.
(2c) This event would have to be the “perfect explosion”. It would require such a perfect balance between the strong nuclear force, the weak nuclear force, the electromagnetic force, and the gravitational force that it defies explanation by chance. In other words, if it expanded too rapidly, no galaxies, planets, stars, etc. would have formed. But, if it expanded too slowly, it would have collapsed back in on itself under its own gravitational pull. Paul Davies in “God and the New Physics” states that this degree of accuracy could be compared to taking aim at a 1 inch square target 20 billion light years away, and hitting the mark!
-GALAXIES- Scientists tell us that, for all practical purposes, stars and galaxies should not exist. Yet, they do. (Some of their theories on star formation actually require stars in order to make stars. (But where did the first stars come from?)
-ANTHROPIC PRINCIPLE- The design and order of the universe and our solar system is so finely-tuned and well-balanced, it’s as though it was all made specifically for life, particularly on planet earth.
-ENTROPY- (a.k.a. the Second Law of Thermodynamics) The universe, just like everything in it, is wearing down and wearing out. The fact that it is wearing down and running out of usable energy tells us once again that the universe had a beginning.
Conclusion: Cosmology tells us that the universe had a beginning, and that the cause of the universe is best explained by an intelligent cause. Therefore, God is the most plausible explanation.
ONTOLOGY (Being)
(in combination with the design argument)
1) There never was a time when there was absolutely nothing. (Ex nihilo nihil fit- “Out of nothing, nothing comes”)
2) There are two possibilities:
A) A self-existent, eternal something (universe, matter, energy, etc.). In other words, something that was always there.
B) A self-existent, eternal Someone (God). In other words, Someone Who was always there.
3) Recent scientific discoveries confirm that the universe had a beginning, therefore, it did not exist eternally. In addition to this, we know that matter and energy, by their very nature, are subject to change and dependent.
4) Something that is subject to change and dependent cannot be self-existent and eternal. Thus, there cannot be a self-existent, eternal something.
5) A Someone is a more reasonable explanation for such things as design, order, specified complexity, and information systems (such as DNA).
6) Therefore, there must be a self-existent, eternal Someone (God).
(A summary of this argument)
There never was a time when there was absolutely nothing. This tells us that there must be something or Someone that was always there. A Someone is a more rational explanation for such things as design, order, specified complexity, and information systems (such as DNA). Therefore, God is the most plausible explanation.
AXIOLOGY (Moral Law)
(Definition of “Objective moral values”- To say that there are “objective moral values” is to say that there are some things that really are morally wrong)
(example)
In Germany during the 1940s, the Nazis were torturing and murdering millions of Jews. It would be unthinkable to suggest that the Nazis were doing the right thing because it was “right for them” or “right for their culture" to do so. It is obvious that torturing and murdering innocent people really is morally wrong (an objective moral value).
(A summary of this argument)
Objective moral values cannot exist without a Supreme Lawgiver.
Objective moral values do exist.
Therefore, there must be a Supreme Lawgiver. God is the most plausible explanation.
TELEOLOGY (Purpose and Design)
Design and purpose point to a designer.
There is great design in the universe.
Therefore, there must be a Great Designer of the Universe. God is the most plausible explanation.
(jgapinoy writes)
For more on teleology, see The Privileged Planet, available (in 12 parts) at YouTube or on DVD. If you happen to know me, I'll happily loan you my DVD.
