Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT FOR PROVING THE EXISTENCE OF GOD - Coggle Diagram
COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT FOR PROVING THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
The argument does offer proof
The third way is one part of an indictive argument for the existence of God
Inductive arguments are valued for their use of observation to reach probabilistic conclusions
The argument does offer proof
Most of Aquinas' argument is rationally + empirically based - his reasoning + appeal to observation provide strong support for theists
The argument does offer proof
Gerry Hughes - Cosmological argument is a more satisfactory explanation than the universe being a 'Brute Fact' - this also relates to Leibniz's 'Principle of Sufficient Reason' (everything must has a sufficient reason)
The argument does not offer proof
Stephen Evans
- This argument does not prove the God of Christian theism, at best is points to a deist God - Aquinas was inspired by Aristotle, and reached the conclusion it was A prime mover, However, Aquinas believes this to be the Christian God of monotheism
The argument does not offer proof
The argument may be unable to convince atheists; instead, it can only offer reasoning to those who already believe in God
The argument does not offer proof
Only deductive arguments can give absolute proof - the Cosmological Argument is inductive so can never be absolutely certain
The argument does not offer proof
Fideists would argue that belief in God is a matter of faith, rather than proof - you should believe in God through faith alone, rather than seeking to prove his existence
It does have value for faith
Aquinas' argument is rationally + empirically based - his reasoning _ appeal to observation provide strong support for theists
It does have value for faith
Aquinas' argument gives evidence to support the 'belief that' God exists
His description of the universe's design encourages 'belief in' God (HH Price)
It does have value for faith
It is consistent with Biblical teaching that 'In the beginning God created the heavens and earth' (Genesis 1:1)
It confirms the Biblical teaching that there is a 'guiding hand' that is directing the whole of nature + human lives in a purposeful way
It does have value for faith
Pope John Paul II
said that reason + faith are mutually supportive -
'Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth'
It dos not have value for faith
Aquinas' argument does not successfully address the Problem of Evil - if God is the cause of everything in existence, then surely he is the cause of all the evil and suffering in the world?
It does not have value for faith
Aquinas himself did not think the argument was sufficient on its own, there are some key ideas about the Christian God (e.g. the Trinity) which are revealed in the Bible + teachings of the Church
It does not have value for faith
For Fideists, rational arguments play not part in faith as they do not lead to commitment
Belief in God must be based on 'faith alone' - you cannot try to 'prove' God exists in this way