Exploring Arguments for and Against God's Existence

Ontological Argument

This argument was formulated by rationalist and idealist philosophers such as Saint Anselm of Canterbury and René Descartes. The ontological argument is an argument for God's existence based entirely on reason. It is based on ideas, not on realities. There is no need to search for physical evidence of God's existence.

• Everyone has an idea of God as the greatest conceivable being.
• It is greater to exist than not to exist.
• Therefore, God exists.

This is an a priori argument because it doesn't need experience. God's existence is proved before having any experience of Him.

The First Cause Argument

This argument is based on experience of the universe. The first cause argument is used by realist philosophers, such as Saint Thomas Aquinas. The universe exists, so it had a beginning. Someone or something had to create it. Therefore, God exists as the first cause of the universe.

1. Everything that exists is caused by something.
2. The universe exists, so it had to be caused by a super powerful being: God.
3. Therefore, God exists.

The universe is a long chain of events, which are causes and effects of many other events. A child is an effect caused by their parents, and they can be the cause of their own children. A lemon tree is the effect of its seed, and it is the cause of lemons. Therefore, God is the first cause of the entire universe. This is an a posteriori argument because it is based on experience—on the understanding of how the universe works.

Agnosticism

From ancient Greek, agnosticism means that it is impossible to know that God exists, but it is also impossible to know that God doesn't exist. Human knowledge cannot prove the existence or non-existence of God. Immanuel Kant said that the existence of God could not be scientifically proven. However, having religious faith and believing in the immortality of the soul is necessary for morality. Humans need to believe in heaven and hell to behave well. If God doesn't exist, then everything is permitted.

Atheism

From Greek, atheism refuses to believe in God. There are two types:

Scientific Atheism

Scientific knowledge is based on empirical demonstration. We cannot prove the existence of God by empirical proof; therefore, God doesn't exist.

Humanistic Atheism

The idea of God is created by humans. God didn't create humans; humans created God. Karl Marx said that religion is the opium of the people. Religion was created by the rich class to maintain the working class as slaves. The working class accepts a miserable life to have an imaginary reward after death.