The Existence of God
Danielle
Introduction to Philosophy
April 23. 2013 The Existence of God
The existence of God has been questioned, pondered, sought out and studied for hundreds, no, thousands of years since the beginning of time. “Does God exist?” “What do certain philosophers have to say about the existence of God?” “What do Christianity and Atheism have to say?” “What about those who say they have experienced God?” “If He does exist, what is He like?” “Why does He allow bad things to happen?” “Why does He not make Himself visible to us?” “What about those who say they have experienced God?” “Can the existence of God be proven?” These are only a small handful of questions that have been asked by many different people. To undoubtedly prove, or, even disprove, the existence of God would ultimately change almost every religion in some small way or another. But, is it possible? Thomas Aquinas, a well-known Italian Dominican priest, philosopher and theologian, believed that God exists. “[He] wanted us to reason our way to God”, to proving or believing His existence (Class Notes). In fact, he had five arguments for the existence of God. The first is known as the “Argument from Motion”:
“Our senses prove that some things are in motion. Things move when potential motion becomes actual motion. Only an actual motion can convert a potential motion into an actual motion. Nothing can be at once in both actuality and potentially in the same respect. Therefore, nothing can move itself. Therefore, each thing in motion is moved by something else. The sequence of motion cannot extend ad infinitum. Therefore, it is necessary to arrive at a first mover, put in motion by no other; and this everyone understands to be God.” (Gracyk) The problem with this argument is that it commits the fallacy of begging the question. In other words, the conclusion appears in the premises (Class Notes).
The second is known as the “Cosmological Argument”: “There
Introduction to Philosophy
April 23. 2013 The Existence of God
The existence of God has been questioned, pondered, sought out and studied for hundreds, no, thousands of years since the beginning of time. “Does God exist?” “What do certain philosophers have to say about the existence of God?” “What do Christianity and Atheism have to say?” “What about those who say they have experienced God?” “If He does exist, what is He like?” “Why does He allow bad things to happen?” “Why does He not make Himself visible to us?” “What about those who say they have experienced God?” “Can the existence of God be proven?” These are only a small handful of questions that have been asked by many different people. To undoubtedly prove, or, even disprove, the existence of God would ultimately change almost every religion in some small way or another. But, is it possible? Thomas Aquinas, a well-known Italian Dominican priest, philosopher and theologian, believed that God exists. “[He] wanted us to reason our way to God”, to proving or believing His existence (Class Notes). In fact, he had five arguments for the existence of God. The first is known as the “Argument from Motion”:
“Our senses prove that some things are in motion. Things move when potential motion becomes actual motion. Only an actual motion can convert a potential motion into an actual motion. Nothing can be at once in both actuality and potentially in the same respect. Therefore, nothing can move itself. Therefore, each thing in motion is moved by something else. The sequence of motion cannot extend ad infinitum. Therefore, it is necessary to arrive at a first mover, put in motion by no other; and this everyone understands to be God.” (Gracyk) The problem with this argument is that it commits the fallacy of begging the question. In other words, the conclusion appears in the premises (Class Notes).
The second is known as the “Cosmological Argument”: “There
Cited: 1. Gracyk, Theodore. “St. Thomas Aquinas: The Existence of God Can Be Proved In Five Ways.” Mnstate.edu. n.p. 2004. Web. 23 April 2013. http://web.mnstate.edu/gracyk/courses/web%20publishing/aquinasfiveways_argumentanalysis.htm 2. Murillo, Homar. “The Five Ways of Aquinas.” Much-ado-about-nothing-homar.blogspot.com. n.p. 7 October 2007. Web. 23 April 2013. http://much-ado-about-nothing-homar.blogspot.com/2007/10/five-ways-of-aquinas_07.html 3. GodIsImaginary. “50 Simple Proofs.” God is Imaginary. N.p. 2007-2011. Web. 23 April 2013. <http://godisimaginary.com/index.htm> 4. New International Version. Bible Gateway. Web. 23 April 2013. 5. English Standard Version. Bible Gateway. Web. 23 April 2013. 6. Antiparticlesteve. “Richard Dawkins on Religious Hallucinations.” Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 14 January 2009. Web. 23 April 2013.