In this paper, I will formally and philosophically discuss the arguments posed by Thomas Aquinas and use my own personal opinions and experiences to explain my disagreements with Aquinas and why I do not believe in the existence of God. Whether or not God exists is an argument that has been ongoing since some of the earliest philosophers took it up hundreds of years ago. Many philosophers have stated arguments on this topic, from Thomas Aquinas to David Hume to St. Anselm. To this day, it is one of, if not the most, debated topics.
St. Thomas Aquinas is a noted philosopher known for his empirical arguments for the existence of God. Though Aquinas posed many arguments in favor of this, I will discuss and explain the teleological argument. This argument is built upon the idea that many things in the world which we live exhibit order and standards. Aquinas asserts that where there is a high order such as these, there must be a superior designer or creator who established and enforces such an order. According to Aquinas, this is whom we refer to as God.
My issues with Aquinas’ argument most closely follow those of David Hume, the later philosopher who criticized Aquinas’ assertions. If God were a perfect creator, he would want to create a perfect world for his creatures to live in. An omnibenevolent God would not want evil to exist, and yet it does through both evil actions of people and natural evils such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and other natural disasters. Additionally, many natural laws exist that can have negative effects on mankind still exist (such as falling from the effects of gravity), and we are exposed to these effects despite supposedly having a God who is omnibenevolent and omnipotent. In addition, it does not seem to make sense that God would not create every creature perfectly, rather than have some be superior than others.
Though I was raised in a Christian household and attended church frequently while growing up, my