Does God really exist?

Question

I - an atheist - entered a debate on this some time ago. My position then and now is that the issue cannot be proved one way or other. One of the most compelling arguments put forward to prove god does not exist was "Darwin's Theory Of Evolution". However, the consensus (within debate I was involved) accepted my argument that Darwin's Theory failed with the absence of life. Darwin's Theory could not explain the origin of first life.

Is there any poof that god does or does not exist?

Answer 1

I've answered this question in a more reflective forum. Look down near the end for the long-ish essay that starts off mentioning Thomas Jefferson. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Are_gods_real

Answer 2

Aquinas' First Argument, Motion

(1) Objects are in motion.

(2) If something is in motion, then it must be caused to be in motion by something outside of itself.

(3) There can be no infinite chain of movers/movees.

(4) So there is a first, unmoved mover.

(5) Therefore, God exists.



Aquinas' Second Argument, Causality

(1) Some events cause other events.

(2) If an event happens, then it must be caused by something outside of itself.

(3) There can be no infinite cause/effect chains.

(4) So, there is a first, uncaused cause.

(5) Therefore God exists.



Aquinas' Third Argument, Contingency

(1) Contingent things exist.

(2) Each contingent thing has a time at which it fails to exist (contingent things are not omnipresent).

(3) So, if everything were contingent, there would be a time at which nothing exists (call this an empty time).

(4) That empty time would have been in the past.

(5) If the world were empty at one time, it would be empty forever after (a conservation principle).

(6) So, if everything were contingent, nothing would exist now.

(7) But clearly, the world is not empty (premise 1).

(8) So there exists a being who is not contingent.

(9) Hence, God exists.



Aquinas' Fourth Argument, Properties That Come in Degrees

(1) Objects have properties to greater or lesser extents.

(2) If an object has a property to a lesser extent, then there exists some other object that has the property to the maximum possible degree.

(3) So there is an entity that has all properties to the maximum possible degree.

(4) Hence God exists.



Aquinas' Fifth Argument, From Design

(1) Among objects that act for an end, some have minds, whereas others do not.

(2) An object that acts for an end, but does not itself have a mind, must have been created by a being that has a mind.

(3) So there exists a being with a mind who designed all mindless objects that act for an end.

(4) Hence, God exists.



Anselm's Argument, The Ontological Argument

(1) God is by definition the greatest possible being.

(2) A being who fails to exist in the actual world (while existing in other possible worlds) is less perfect than a being who exists in all possible worlds.

(3) Hence, God exists, necessarily.

Answer 3

You cannot prove a negative assertion (i.e. an assertion that something does NOT exist) - of course you can show that this assertion is wrong by showing that the object does indeed exist... hence anyone who makes an positive assertion (i.e. an assertion about the positive existence of something) carries the burden of proof.



Darwinian theory DOES NOT prove that god is non-existent - However, it does manage to show that we do not need explain the intricacy and order in the world by postulating an intelligent designer.



The process of natural selection (Darwin's theory of evolution) is indeed a plausible explanation for origins of life. The field is known as "abiogenesis" - we can conceive of self replicating molecules that formed given the appropriate environmental circumstances...



Of course you need to have spent some time studying this (preferably in a formal setting in a higher education institute) if you really are genuinely seeking to understand and learn... otherwise you and the rest of the ignoramuses can phuck off!

Answer 4

Better philosophers than you or I have engaged with this issue down the centuries, and no-one has yet come up with any way of rationally demonstrating whether God exists or not.

The rational position, therefore, is to be Agnostic - accepting that there is no way to demonstrate God's existence or non-existence (as opposed to being Gnostic - believing that it is possible to demonstrate this).

There are several arguments which have been put-forward to "prove" God's existence (the Cosmological Argument, Teleological Argument, Ontological Argument, etc.), but none of these really withstand rigorous, rational examination.



Beyond that, being either Atheistic (believing God does not exist), Theistic (believing in an interventionist God) or Deistic (believing in a non-interventionist God), is an act of Faith; belief in a stance with no supporting evidence for your position.



That said, there is an important philosophical principle - that of Parsimony (aka "Occam's Razor"), which says that of all the possible explanations for an observation (and there are an infinite number of possible explanations for *anything*), the one which is philosophically preferred is the one which introduces the least possible number of new variables - in other words, the simplest explanation.

And any model which excludes God as an explanation is always simpler than the explanation which includes Him (since, if God created the universe, He must necessarily be at least as complex as the universe, therefore at least doubling the complexity).



PS - Darwin's Theory is an excellent refutation to the Teleological Argument (the "Argument from Design"), as it provides a natural explanation for the *apparent* design in living organisms.

However, it does not in itself *disprove* God's existence (or even His involvement in the changes life has undergone since it began), it merely offers a more parsimonious explanation.

Answer 5

There is no proof of Gods existence so therefore we must accept he does not exist until proven so if ever, people who want to believe in something will do so, those who seek bigfoot believe he exists, evolution is not the answer to gods existence, even if evolution was proven 100% false it would not make the creation myth true by default. Quite simply there is no proof whatsoever for gods existence and that is what must be sought after forever because you cannot prove something does not exist, can we prove there is an invisible talking egg sitting on your shoulder than we will never be aware of - no, but that doesnt mean it doesnt exist.

Answer 6

No. No gods exist. There is no evidence and no sound arguments to even explain why we need gods to explain the natural world.



Darwin's theory of evolution explains how living things evolve. It never was and is not intended to explain how life arose. It doesn't have to, because evolution is only concerned with how living things adapt to their environments. Abiogenesis is the study of how life originally arose.

Answer 7

Yes God exits , The Bible is fulfilling every day the Bible says that there will be wars and rumors of wars in the last days , It also says in the moment you think not Christ will appear , In my opinion people have wasted money and time trying to figure out where and when life started , I read my Bible every day and I believe in God , and it states that God created Heaven and Earth and God created every living creature . John 3:16 For God so loved the world , that he gave his only begotten Son , that whosoever believeth in him should not perish , but have everlasting life. Revelation 11:8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city , which spritually is called Sodom and Egypt,where also our Lord was crucified. Revelation 11:9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. In my grandpas generation they didnt know how everyone would see their dead bodies ,nor my fathers generation , But I can say the way that they will be seen will be on national television and computers . Revelation 22:7 Behold I come quickly : blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book .The Bible says that in the last days Israel will be declared as a nation that happened May 14 1948.

Answer 8

There are many experiences of Saints spiritual life and instructions, interpretations, that God exist. I don't understand why it's so difficult to find the literature to read in your country.

Look this "Commentaries on the Gospel - Blessed Theophylact (Archbishop Bulgarian)". Try to find something by St Anthony the Great and St Basil the Great. Life biographies and instructions of John from Cross and Therese from Avila, holy Mountain Athos Elders lifes and instructions. Or ask me, i can help you.

Answer 9

The theory of evolution (actually the process, the theory is our best explanation for it) only proves that if a god exists, he is a fairly heartless and callous bastard from a human perspective.



Other than that, I am happy to go with the lack of evidence leading to a lack of belief, much like my lack of belief in fairies. I can't conclusively prove they don't exist, but I don't take the notion seriously. Same with gods.

Answer 10

Nobody has ever been able to prove Darwin's theory describes anything real, so it's unlikely that anybody can ever prove the existence or nonexistence of God.



The question is not how to prove God, the question is what you believe. God claims to be the God of rightness. Do you believe rightness exists?

Answer 11

The existence of God is a supernatural issue - the word supernatural meaning ‘above’ the natural. Human philosophy, reason, logic, understanding, knowledge and science are part of the ‘natural’ realm and will never be able to prove or disprove the existence of God.

Answer 12

Yes. There is a proof that God existed. If Mary existed, God does. Try to watch this video, it shows the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOCQeYECWU0



That a miracle from God and the Blessed Mother of God. I hope this helps. Shalom. I'm a devout Roman Catholic :-)

Answer 13

I strongly believe not. 15 years of belief as a christian has convinced me of this, based on NOTHING happening within that time to vindicate my belief.



Darwin's theory is in contention with the biblical view of the universe, it doesn't necessarily stand against the idea that there is a god.

Answer 14

Well the Bible is proof enough! its a Historical record written by very learned and wise men of real events witnessed,

Here is a question

If the things written in the Bible came from the mind of man alone, wouldnt it be VERY more liberal?

Answer 15

why atheist feel pride for big bang theory when Quran gave it 1400 years ago



check this out?



http://www.answering-christianity.com/hot_gas.htm





see also how Quran is numerically balanced -------





http://thequranmiracles.canalblog.com/archives/numeric_miracles/index.html





http://www.4ava.com/sunrise/letters/Miracle.htm







Islam holds that the Qur’an was repeatedly revealed from Allah to Muhammad verbally through the angel JibrÄ«l (Gabriel) over a period of approximately twenty-three years, beginning in 610 CE, when he was forty, and concluding in 632 CE, the year of his death.Followers of Islam further believe that the Qur’an was memorized, recited and written down by Muhammad's companions after every revelation dictated by Muhammad. Most of Muhammad's companions, tens of thousands, learned the Qur’an by heart, repeatedly recited in front of Muhammad for his approva

or the approval of other Sahabas Muhammad approved and also compiled it in written form while he was alive.

Answer 16

Simple answer, no. But 'proof' implies a scientific study, and first you need to define what is meant by 'god' ...then, devise experiments to discover this phenomena. Good luck with that.

Answer 17

God showing up ends atheism forever. Either he doesn't exist, or he wants atheism to continue growing.

Answer 18

You are talking about the realm of the spirit and it is a different dimension. Read this book and you will get your answer.



http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/satans-release-and-his-final-defeat/6540354?productTrackingContext=center_search_results

Answer 19

As for those who disbelieve, it is the same for them; whether you warn them, or not warn them, they cannot believe. GOD seals their minds and their hearing, and their eyes are veiled. They have incurred severe retribution.



Don't you understand?

Answer 20

I believe there is a god, but I have no proof of god.

Answer 21

No.