Many centuries ago, there have been arguments on whether or not there is the existence of God. These arguments are the result of atheists and believers. Atheists are people who believe that God and other supernatural beings are man-made ideas. The existence of many religions is also as a result of differences in beliefs about God. Theism, from which theistic is derived, is that belief in the existence of God or gods. From a religious point of view, a God is either a normal or supernatural being. Some religions have one supreme God while others have many gods. The religions which have many gods groups them as either male or female. A male one is a god while a female is a goddess. Regardless of this classification, it is important to note that in one religion, God is used in without affiliation to any gender.
Classical theism is that believe which God is described as the totally metaphysically ultimate being. It was given its most relevant and prevalent form through the work of Thomas Aquinas. Thomas Aquinas, Saint Thomas Aquinas, was an enormously influential philosopher and a theologian. He was the founder of classical theism but it has however been developed by other scholars. In the classical theism Thomas was trying to convince people that God exists. He gave the following five ways in which existence of God can be demonstrated philosophically.
1. The argument of "unmoved mover". He says that everybody is aware of that there is motion in the world and that anything in motion is moved by another thing. This other thing is also moved by another thing, to avoid an infinite reversion, we must postulate a "major mover," who is God.
2. In his argument of “Nothing is caused by itself", give an example of how a table cannot exist by itself. That is in a table to exist a carpenter has to make it. Therefore, we cannot go on to limitlessness; there needs to be a first cause, which is God.
3. The cosmological (solar) argument. He says that all physical things, mountains or lakes, come into presence and go out of being, no matter the time it takes. Subsequently time is infinite; there must be some a moment at which none of these existed. He asks if there was nothing how could there be something. According to him; nothing could not cause anything. Hence, there must have been one indispensable thing that is eternal, which is God.
4. Everything in the world has different degrees of qualities for example goodness. Talking about the degree of goodness it only makes sense by comparison. That is with the maximum being God.
5. In the teleological argument he says that everything in the world moves towards goals. He gives an example of an arrow which does not except when directed by the archer. Therefore, there must be an intelligent designer who directs everything towards their goals. This designer is God.
The A Priori Approach, it is considered as the heart of the ontological argument, invented by Anselm of Canterbury and revised in the system of Augustine. It starts by defining God as infinite, perfect, and necessary. According to the approach even an idiot knows what he means by "God" when he proclaims.
The ontological argument by St Anselm also supports the existence of God. It states that it would be rationally inconsistent to deny God's existence. St. Anselm defines God as a being which is conceived greater than anything can be. According to him, if God exists only in the mind, He then would not be the greatest conceivable being. We would think of another being that is greater as it would be both in the mind and in reality, and that being would be God. Thus, to think that God only exists in the mind and not in reality leads to logical contradictions. He concludes that no one who understands what God is can conceive that He does not exist as it will be self-contradiction. This verifies existence of God in both the mind and in reality.
The moral argument is the most theistic proof about the existence of God. According to a philosopher by the name Kant existence of God and of immorality of the soul are matters of faith and not speculative reason which is limited. He articulated that moral law directs us to seek the (“summum bonum”) maximum good, with perfect happiness as a rational result. He adds that, a difficulty arises when we realize there is no base in the moral law for a connection between morality and happiness in a being that fits to the world as a part of it. The only assumption that will be the logic of man's moral experience is the presence of a cause of all nature, different from nature itself. That will be a God who will accurately reward moral effort in another world. In a godless world man's genuine experience would be a harsh enigma.
The Cosmological Argument, it states that there exists a unique, by the name God. It is inferred from facts or unproven facts concerning change and motion among other things. This approach contains, among other arguments the five which Thomas Aquinas put forward to philosophically prove the existence of God. According to the arguments one has two choices; to choose between a self-existent God and a self-existent cosmos. The cosmos, though, is not performing as if it is self-existent. The argument refers to the second law of thermodynamics, which states that the universe is running like a clock. The energy is continuously being dissolute, that is, gradually dispersed throughout the universe. This process has gone on for many years and the scientists have never perceived a re-establishment of the dissolute energy. The result would have been state of thermal equilibrium, a heat death, which is not the case because someone controls that. This someone is obviously God The principle of causality for a cause states that for something to happen it must have caused. Nothing cannot cause to happen and when you refer causal effects of something it will be infinity.
Pascal’s Wager argument, it states that belief in God based is not a plea to evidence that He exists but is based on self-interest. That is, it is for our own interests to believe in God and it is so rational for us to do so. The claim is reinforced by a consideration of the possible penalties of belief and unbelief. If we believe, then if he exists then we will get a great reward in heaven however if He does not we have nothing to lose. If we do not believe in Him and he exists, we will receive an immeasurable punishment in hell. It is thus in our interests and rationality to believe in God.
The Miracles argument, it proves both the existence of God and the truth of Christianity. The Bible states that Jesus’ ministries were accompanied by miraculous signs, his claims and teachings were endorsed by God. The greatest of all being his resurrection, is taken by many as solid foundation to their faith. Miracles naturally include the suspension of the natural operations of the universe as some supernatural event occurs. They can only occur assumed the existence of some supernatural being.
The origin of man has been another argument about existence of God. Most atheists base their argument on origin of man from Charles Darwin evolution theory. But they have not succeeded to convince where these evolving creatures came from. They have also been unable to explain about the origin of the solar system. From the argument that nature come to exist because it had to exist it is not sufficient to convince why all planets are different. Atheists have a challenge on why the solar system exists as it is from arrangement of planets. For example, why is Mercury near the sun and not Earth?
In conclusion, classical theist has been criticized mostly by atheists. But the atheists have failed to answer many questions. Existence of evil in the world has been questioned by many people. According to classical theists God is good and is full of goodness. This seems contradict as to why then God allows evil to His people. Why do people go through problems and sufferings? If God protects us all why is then some people are ever suffering and facing problems throughout their lives. The question of whether God loves human why will there be a hell and if He is forgiving then why punish and send people to the hell? Among many other critics the classical theistic arguments have proved largely that there exists God. From the arguments of ontological cosmological and others one can accept that there is a God. The argument of criticizers is overweighed by the classic theistic arguments. That is the theistic argument provides more answers to criticizers than they provide answers back. However, given the freedom of choice and right of worship, however it remains personal for one to accept or deny the existence of God.
References
Evans, C. S. (2012). Natural signs and knowledge of God: A new look at theistic arguments. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Boa, K., & Bowman, R. (2005). Faith has its reasons: Integrative approaches to defending the Christian faith. Downers Grove, Ill: IVP Books.
