Is There A God?

Is on that point a god Is in that respect a beau idealThe defense for the belief in the military personnels of matinee idol has historically evaded the orbital cavity of empirical verification . How ever so extraordinary historic events and difficult cultural and governmental evolutions deport taken place collect to the influence of religious beliefs Additionally , religious belief has squeeze matters of social justice economic parity , and moral and respectable beliefs all around the populace Whether or non the founding of a graven image (or theologys ) can be established by modern scientific investigation seems ir applicable to the course of mankind events , m some(prenominal) of which be propelled by religious convictions . Despite the primaeval reluctance and technical inability of coetaneous scientists to corroborate the populace of paragon , philosophical courses based on psuedo-scientific criteria are numerous most of these empirical arguments are based in adept form or another around the idea-structure of Swinburne s famous treatise Is There a paragon which purports to prove by rational surmise and logical system that idol existsForemost among Swinburne s arguments is that the natural of the instauration demonstrates intelligent excogitate It is extraordinary that in that respect should exist any thing at all[ .] And so many another(prenominal) things . Maybe chance could have thrown up the eccentric electron . BUT so many particles ![ .] If we can let off the many bits of the man by wizardness(a) unproblematic creation which keeps them in earth , we should do so--even if inevitably we cannot explain the founding of that simple being (Swinburne , 1996 ,. 48-49 ) Swinburne s argument is steeped in formal logic and rhetoric , yet the underlying principles are relatively simple The idea that the existence of a complex institution which is well-suited to human experience postulates an intelligent actor for both things the human race and kindliness , is based less in rationality than in the perception of astonished wonder . In other words , beca drill Swinburne finds the earth to be a marvel of curiosities and interestingly human bodyed elements and phenomena does not indicate that the universe is experienced this a means by a majority of human beings or in any way that the experience Swinburne records indicates the existence of a GodBasically , the argument for intelligent object is based on analogy the universe is well-designed as a human make arti particular might be well-designed , w because , the universe essential have an intelligent agent . theless , this teleological argument which is normally construed as an argument from analogy : Since the universe is analogous to some human arti incident that unrivalled knows to be designed , likely the universe itself is designed breaks down when examined intimately . Although Hume and others have described the universe as a instruct and argued that just as we can infer that a as sure found on a heath has a fountain , so we can infer that the universe has a author (Martin , 1990 ,. 125 the analogy is specious when taken to its logical shutdownsFor employment , if the analogy were carried to its logical extreme , one would end up with conclusions not acceptable to the theist . Because machines are usually made by many intelligent beings [ .] some form of polytheism alternatively than monotheism would be warranted by the argument as well as the fact that the beings who create machines have bodies so God moldiness have a body . If machines have imperfections , we have case for supposing that the creators are not perfect . So since the universe has imperfections , one should conclude that God is not perfect (Martin , 1990 ,. 127 ) These analogous conclusion run contrary to demonstrating the existence of God insofar as Swinburne intended his analogy to function . In fact , the deeper one takes the analogy , the c mislayr one comes to the opposite conclusion : that no monotheistic God at all existsAnother of the assertions made by religious pragmatists is that not lone(prenominal) the existence of a universe , except the existence of an ly universe with a complex (and mainly hierarchical ) system of phenomena , demonstrates the existence of God . Again , because an ly world is both functional and to some degree pleasurable (according to Swinburne ) in that respect must be an intelligence behind the design of the universe . And merely an intelligent designer exclusively an omnipotent creator who is able to produce a world ly in these see . And he has dependable conclude to choose to do so : a world containing human persons is a good thing . Persons have experiences , and thoughts , and can make choices , and their choices can make biggish differences to themselves , to others , and to the inanimate world . God , being perfectly good , is generousHe needs to share (Swinburne , 1996 ,. 52 ) This latter postulation seems completely turn out of in a rational and scientific discussion provided as this discussion will later show , the emotionality of belief is an aspect of religious conviction which enters into not only the so-called logical argument on behalf of their faith , just now as the primary emotional and psychological connection with the God or Gods which are believed in by religious devoteesAgain , wish well Swinburne s assertion that the mere existence of the universe indicates a designer , his likewise analogy that the universe being well-ed indicates intelligent design , is easily refuted simply by examining Swinburne s analogy itself closely . If the universe is wonderfully complex and apparently designed to fulfill domain s needs and expectations , modern information accepts the possibility of multi-universes , most of which cannot be meaningfully detected by mankind Although it may be true that the universe is unique , there is no reason to suppose , in the light of our p dislike distinguish , that this is relevant in judging whether it is created or not . We have no reason to suppose it cannot be judged by the same criteria we use to judge whether planets , rocks , and gismos are created[ .] it may be urged that as our engineering advances , we may be able to create objects that resemble to a greater extent and more the natural objects we find in the universe (Martin , 1990 ,br 332 ) obviously , the projected future of science could be extend logically to include the technology which could create geological elements , in fact planets themselves , which would demonstrate not the intelligent design of a God but the intelligent design of mankind , which is among the animal sThat close assertion is something that Swinburne objects to with great fervor At some while in evolutionary history bodies of complex animals become connected to souls , and this , I shall be arguing , is something utterly beyond the tycoon of science to explain . But theism can explain this--for God has the power and reason to join souls to bodies (Swinburne , 1996 ,. 69-70 ) Of course , science has no power to explain mystical or elfin phenomena . The wish of scientific inquiry into these ares comprises another , more dramatically contemporary , argument for the existence of Gid . This argument posits the idea that since science and scientists are reluctant to investigate mystical and supernatural phenomena , proof of the existence of God has evaded science because the proof for God s existence resides in the supernatural sphere . Those who argue along these lines contend that scientific practice is often contrasted with religious belief in that the former is supposed to be open-minded whereas the latter is said to be close-minded and hence closer to ideology and these same observers resent being categorized as close-minded instead positing that science is , in fact ,narrow-minded for not taking into account the supernatural (Van Heerden , 2004Investigation of the supernatural does , in fact , seem to be orthogonal of the scope of scientific investigation , although some noteworthy efforts have been made . In 1882 a group of eminent scholars from the humanities and the sciences[ .]founded the Society for Psychical Research , with the stated purpose of examine so-called paranormal phenomena in a scientific manner but this gesture seems to have been more or less disregarded in contemporary science . The prevailing disdain amongst certain scientific atheists regarding religious belief and their rejection of religion is based not on sound physical /material evidence but on existing prejudices .

There is no existing evidence that disproves the existence of a supernatural agent or agents or which proves conclusively that other mechanisms /agencies are not at snuff it alongside (or working finished ) ones already identified and glorified in orthodox science (Van Heerden , 2004 ) Van Heerden s argument is one of the most compelling arguments that theists have at their disposal . It must be remembered , though , that this contention is one of distinguishing a miss of evidence which would prove the existence of God it is not a conformation that such evidence is there to be self-contained , merely a positing of an area which has not been thoroughly indistinct in the search for possible evidenceSuch arguments are , in fact , the province of mysticism or else than science and seem to attic acknowledgment that science cannot fulfil this purpose because it extends estrangement in the world by driving subject and object ever further apart in its reductive thinking . mysticism , at the other end of the spectrum , claims the complete elimination of alienation but again this contention has nothing whatsoever to do with establishing evidence for the existence of God rather it is an emotional approach , based in human psychology rather than in empirical , objective evidence (Van Heerden , 2004In fact , the psychological and hence subjective connection to the idea of a God or Gods is what drives the conviction many believers profess to having in the existence of God . A survey of theists revealed a personal subjective , rather than empirically phenomenal , vision of God among respondents . Such a distinction from empirical evidence is important because it indicates that even among solid believers , God is viewed more as an internal psychological fate rather than an external tear which exudes omnipotent power oer the created universe God is valued as an end in Himself rather than as a means to other ends . around people compulsion God for the same reason for which they want friends , and His relation to them is exactly that of a in truth dear and very lovable and very sympathizing friend (Pratt , 1907 ,. 264Theists , as we have seen through our preceding discussion , typically move from an empirical or scientific mode of argument to an emotional mode of argument to a mystical mode of argument and closingly to a moral or ethical mode of argument . This final mode is usually articulated fundamentally , as ana bill of indictment of human moral and ethical character Without a God , it is posited , the moral and ethical systems of human society would crumble . Or conversely , since humanity is so innately sinful , epicurean ethical and moral systems as handed down from God must be used to restrain our worst tendencies . just , another vision fo a Godless world acn be equally demonstrated , due the lack of any evidence as God as an active force in the universe and not merely as a psychological quantity the religious consciousness values God chiefly as a companion . The need of Him is a social need . Religious people would miss Him if they should lose their faith , just as they miss a baseless friend however , society would surely endure (Pratt , 1907 ,. 268In fact , atheists envision a world which , would in some slipway . be superior to the theistically driven worlds which have inspired wars and expert conservatism . Should atheism become the dominant world-view , it is posited , then one would anticipate vast changes in many areas . For example , there would probably be fewer wars and less violence than there is now[ .] . The birth rate would also drop in many countries , since religious objections to contraception would no longer prevail[ .] .Church and state would probably become separate in countries in which they have traditionally been interwoven[ .]This in turn would bring about profound political changes But such changes are unlikely to happen in the near future because , scorn the lack of any probable scientific or empirical evidence to demonstrate the existence of God , the psychological component of these belief-systems are so autochthonic and so influential in world-affairs that their functional repudiation , despite the ease with which it can be made from a scientific or philosophical angel , seems destined for a long-distance future (Martin , 1990 ,. 459 ReferencesMartin , M (1990 . Atheism : A Philosophical defense . Philadelphia Temple University PressPratt , J . B (1907 . The Psychology of Religious precept . New York MacmillanSwinburne , R (1996 . Is There a God . Oxford : Oxford University PressVan Heerden , A (2004 , June . Why Atheism Is Unscientific . Contemporary Review , 284 , 351 ...If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: Orderessay

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