Proof For The Existence Of God Philosophy Essay

Proof For The Existence Of God Philosophy Essay Opinions relating  in favor of and in opposition to the  existence of God  have been controversial from many years as anticipated by philosophers, theologians, scientists, and others. The discussion with reference to the existence of God is very traditional and most argued debates in  human history. The existence of God is a matter of debate in philosophy,  the  philosophy of religion, and  popular culture. This report presents the different sides and opinions of philosophers that at different time periods argued about the existence of God and its need as well as the analysis of different views to present the controversial topic in detail. Definition of God In contemporary Western culture, the perception of God normally relates to a  monotheistic, superlative, eventual, and personal being. This view is mostly originated from Christian and Hebrew traditions.  Traditional view  portrayed God as having perfection in almost everything. Many religions and different societies believe that God is a body that cannot be defined. They alleged that this act can deny the magnificent nature of God. Some traditional philosophical approaches defined God as the prime mover or the uncaused cause, the ultimate creator, or a being that than which nothing greater can be conceived. (Steve Rudd, 2012) Arguments for the existence of God Aquinas Five Ways argued that the God exists and its necessary to prove this controversy. The summarized points from that literature are discussed below: The  argument relating unmoved mover  emphasized that, we experience motion in the universe from where we assume that there exists an initial mover. Aquinas predicted that the motion is created because of an unmoved object; therefore there must be an unmoved mover. Aquinas  another view discussed that from first cause  foundation it is impracticable for an organism to create itself. Therefore, it predicts that there must be a first cause that is itself uncaused. The argument from  necessary being  declares that all organisms are  conditional which means that they also have choice of non existence. Aquinas therefore sets his point that if everything chooses not to exist, then we may not have anything in the universe. But as things exist now, there must exist a being regarded as God with  necessary existence. Aquinas  argued from degree of goodness that there are always things that are good or bed from others. He believed that there must be a maximum goodness which causes all goodness. The  teleological argument  asserts the view that unintelligent things are ordered to be in position. Aquinas concentrates on the view that unintelligent objects can only be ordered by an intelligent being, which proves that there must be an intelligent being God to move objects to specific purpose. (Theodore Gracyk, 2004) The ontological argument was presented by philosophers including  St. Anselm  and  Renà © Descartes. The argument puts forward that the existence of God is obvious and self-evident. The formulation of logic they proposed is presented below: God is the greatest conceivable being. It is greater to exist than not to exist. Therefore, God exists. (Oppy and Graham, 1996 revised in 2011) Different philosophers argued that the existence of God in not necessary because there is no proof that if something is predictive or superlative it also exists. The debate was controversial and is also in modern time builds up the arguments to conclude that either God exist or not and if its existence is necessary. Arguments from historical events or personages Christianity  and  Judaism  believe that God interfered and shows his existence in almost every specific event and situations in history. Those events and the interference proved that there is empirical evidence that God exists. For example the event of Exodus  and the giving of the  Ten Commandments  in front of all the tribes of Israel. The Resurrection of Jesus argues that there is adequate historical confirmation for resurrection of Jesus to support his asserts to be the son of God which proved the Gods existence.  This argument stem from the  Christological argument. Islam  argued that the revelation of its holy book, the  Quran, justifies its heavenly authorship, and thus the existence of God. The bible that is Holy book of Christians argued that there is one mighty and strong being in the universe, which declares the existence of God. (Dr. Andrew Corbett, 2009) Hindu arguments Most schools of Hinduism believe that there is existence of God but some of them dont believe that. Law of karma provide basis of the existence of God. They believe that the actions of karma are not performed by humans and one own self so there must be an existence of God to control and monitor all karmatic actions. They also believe that fruits of karma are transferred and dispensed through a body that is known as God and thus proved the existence. (Siyam, 2012) Arguments from testimony Arguments from testimony are based on experience of witnesses, possibly exemplifying the intentions of a specific  revealed  religion.  It is the fundamental of rationality that one should accept testimony except there are powerful motives for not doing so. Arguments against the existence of God Each of the following arguments aims at showing either that a particular subset of gods does not exist through contradictions in arguments or that there is insufficient reason to believe in them. Some arguments are discussed below that present the opposite and contradictory views relating existence of God. Empirical arguments Empirical arguments depend on  empirical data  in order to prove their conclusions. The major arguments can be derived from the traditional and religious  scriptures like the Jewish  Tanakh, the  Christian  Bible, the  Muslim  Quran,  Hindu  Vedas. The understanding of scripture provide basis to the knowledge of Gods existence. The theist arguments relating existence of God and its fundamentals are called  theodicies. The  argument from nonbelievers  contests the existence of an omnipotent God who wants humans to believe in him by arguing that such a god would do a better job of gathering believers. (Lawrence Croker, 2011) Deductive arguments Deductive arguments attempt to prove their conclusions by  deductive reasoning  from true premises. The  Ultimate Boeing 747 gambit  is a counter-argument to the  argument from design. The argument rests on the view that there is a designer that creates complex structures and design. So the God, we are talking about, should be as complicated as all things He has created in the universe. This situation also requires a designer. And its designer would also require a designer, ad infinitum. Therefore the views create infinite contradiction that there is a need of another designer to create a complex being. The  omnipotence paradox  recommends that the perception of an  omnipotent  being is rationally conflicting, for instance, for this purpose, questions like is GOD have all the authority? or can a mountain be created by God, so big that it cannot be moved by Himself. The Omniscience paradox demonstrates a different angle of the omnipotence paradox. Omnipotent and omniscience disagree with with concept of existence of God. The  problem of hell  is the idea that everlasting damnation for actions committed in a finite existence contradicts Gods  omnibenevolence  or  omnipresence. A contradictory argument against the  Cosmological argument  i.e. chicken or egg is based on supposition that things cannot subsist without creators therefore should also apply to God creation and existence. This also lays foundation that existence of universe as a second cause. Theological noncognitivism also contradict the god-concept by showing that scientific test cannot verify it. This argument says that if God is morally perfect, omniscient and omnipotent, than instead of imperfect human beings, He would have created other morally perfect beings. (John Shook, 2011) Inductive arguments Inductive arguments predict existence of God based on  inductive reasoning. The  atheist-existentialist  argument that it is impossible to present existence of a perfect sentient being. It also argued that if  existence comes before spirit, it  follows from  the connotation of the expression  sentient that a sentient being cannot be inclusive or perfect. No reason argument attempts to reveal that an omniscient or omnipotent probably have no reason to do it in this way, especially the creation of universe, as it may likely to have no wants, needs, or desires etc. as these concepts are strictly relevant to human beings. so omnipotent god cannot exist until the universe exists. Since the universe exists, there is a contradiction, and therefore, an The other argument known as historical induction concludes that since most theistic religions all the way through narration and their gods ultimately come to be considered as fictitious or mistaken, all theistic religions, including contemporary ones, are therefore most likely untrue and incorrect by induction. (John Shook, 2011) Subjective arguments Similar to the  subjective  arguments for the existence of God are contradictory with the supernatural that chiefly based on the testimony or experience of witnesses, or the suggestions of a  revealed  religion  in common. The spectator argument provides trustworthiness to personal witnesses, contemporary and from the past, who disbelieve or strongly doubt the existence of God. The disappointment argument claims that if, when asked for, there is no visible help from God, there is any reason to believe that there is a God. (John Shook, 2011) Conclusions Conclusions on the existence of God can be categorized along abundant axes, producing a variety of vies about the existence and non existence of God.  Theism  and atheism  are positions of belief (or lack of it), while  Gnosticism  and  agnosticism  are positions of knowledge (or the lack of it)  is concerns belief regarding Gods conceptual coherence.  Apatheism  concerns belief on the subject of the practical importance of whether God exists or not. The above discussion presents both views of the different philosophers and testimonies relating God existence. The views presented above are justified and contradicted based on different arguments and discussions based on several philosophical authors and religions therefore clearing the views of both sides that either God exist or not exist. The topic is still controversial and several philosophers are still arguing and practice their specific opinions relating this fact.