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what are the five proofs of gods existence

by Athena Funk Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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10 Scientific Proofs for the Existence of God

  • 1. Near Death Experiences ...
  • 2. Light ...
  • 3. Time and Energy ...
  • 4. Morality and Advanced Intelligence ...
  • 5. Matrix theory and Artificial Intelligence ...
  • 6. Life ...
  • 7. Irreducible complexity ...
  • 8. Laws of the universe ...

Thomas Aquinas' Five Ways to Prove the Existence of God
  • The First Way: Motion.
  • The Second Way: Efficient Cause.
  • The Third Way: Possibility and Necessity.
  • The Fourth Way: Gradation.
  • The Fifth Way: Design.

Full Answer

What is the best proof of God?

Unlike any other revelation of God, Jesus Christ is the clearest, most specific proof of God revealing himself to us. Why Jesus? Look throughout the major world religions and you'll find that Buddha, Muhammad, Confucius and Moses all identified themselves as teachers or prophets. None of them ever claimed to be equal to God.

Can you prove or disprove the existence of God?

To Prove God Exists… Certainty is only possible in mathematical proofs. Beyond a reasonable doubt is not a reasonable standard of proof to use when discussing God. The preponderance of evidence is the only legitimate way to asses the existence of God and is the only way to prove God exists.

Is there definitive proof of the existence of God?

There is evidence for the existence of God. Not everyone finds that evidence compelling or convincing; this does not mean such evidence is nonexistent. Most who deny evidence for God demand forms of proof —or levels of certainty—that are either irrelevant or unreasonable.

Do scriptures prove the existence of God?

The God of the Bible is contrasted to the false idols that people were worshipping. From the first page of the Bible until the last, God's existence is assumed. Nowhere is there a case made out to prove that God exists. The writers of Scripture take it for granted. They state that His existence is obvious to all.

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What are the three basic proofs of the existence of God?

The three traditional proofs of God's existence This undertaking has traditionally consisted of three key arguments: The ontological, cosmological, and teleological arguments. Such proofs may seem futile in the contemporary context.

How did Aquinas prove God exists?

Explanation. Thomas Aquinas sought proof of God's existence by examining the natural world. He wanted to use natural laws to explain why God was real. Each of his five arguments, called the cosmological arguments, originates from a concept in the cosmos that needs an explanation.

Who wrote the proofs for the existence of God?

René Descartes' (1596-1650) "Proofs of God's Existence" is a series of arguments that he posits in his 1641 treatise (formal philosophical observation) "Meditations on First Philosophy," first appearing in "Meditation III.

What are the five contribution of St Thomas Aquinas?

Saint Thomas Aquinas believed that the existence of God could be proven in five ways, mainly by: 1) observing movement in the world as proof of God, the "Immovable Mover"; 2) observing cause and effect and identifying God as the cause of everything; 3) concluding that the impermanent nature of beings proves the ...

How do we know that God exists?

As mentioned earlier, evidence for God's existence is widely available through creation, conscience, rationality and human experience.

Can you prove the existence of God?

Scientists don't try to prove or disprove God's existence because they know there isn't an experiment that can ever detect God. And if you believe in God, it doesn't matter what scientists discover about the Universe – any cosmos can be thought of as being consistent with God.

Who created God?

We ask, "If all things have a creator, then who created God?" Actually, only created things have a creator, so it's improper to lump God with his creation. God has revealed himself to us in the Bible as having always existed.

What is the full form of God?

As per most of the beliefs, the meaning or full form of GOD is Generator, Operator, Destroyer. Hinduism is considered to be the oldest religion. In Hinduism, Lord Brahma is described as the Generator, Lord Vishnu as the Operator, and Lord Shiva as the Destroyer.

How many gods are there in the world?

Yajnavalkya said: “There are only 33 gods. These others are but manifestations of them.” In Hinduism there are said to be 330,000,000 gods.

What is the first cause argument for the existence of God?

The first cause argument is based around cause and effect. The idea is that everything that exists has something that caused it, there is nothing in our world that came from nothing. As human beings we are used to seeing cause and effect in our everyday lives, so this argument is easy to relate to.

How does the cosmological argument prove God?

A cosmological argument, in natural theology, is an argument which claims that the existence of God can be inferred from facts concerning causation, explanation, change, motion, contingency, dependency, or finitude with respect to the universe or some totality of objects.

What was Thomas Aquinas theory?

The master principle of natural law, wrote Aquinas, was that "good is to be done and pursued and evil avoided." Aquinas stated that reason reveals particular natural laws that are good for humans such as self-preservation, marriage and family, and the desire to know God.

How does St Thomas Aquinas describe God?

According to Aquinas, this means that God, from whom everything else is created, “contains within Himself the whole perfection of being” (ST Ia 4.2). But as the ultimate cause of our own existence, God is said to have all the perfections of his creatures (ST Ia 13.2).

What is the first cause argument for the existence of God?

The first cause argument is based around cause and effect. The idea is that everything that exists has something that caused it, there is nothing in our world that came from nothing. As human beings we are used to seeing cause and effect in our everyday lives, so this argument is easy to relate to.

How does the cosmological argument prove God?

A cosmological argument, in natural theology, is an argument which claims that the existence of God can be inferred from facts concerning causation, explanation, change, motion, contingency, dependency, or finitude with respect to the universe or some totality of objects.

What did Thomas Aquinas argue?

Thomas Aquinas believed "that for the knowledge of any truth whatsoever man needs divine help, that the intellect may be moved by God to its act."

Why is human existence possible?

Human existence is possible because the constants of physics and the parameters for the universe and for planet Earth lie within certain highly restricted ranges.

What did Stephen Hawking believe about the universe?

The late Professor Stephen Hawking advanced the idea that the cosmos could have sprung into existence from nothing without a cause. He claimed that the pre-existent force of gravity could have supplied the energy and impetus to cause the Big Bang. This idea, of course, undermined his earlier seminal work with Professor Roger Penrose, where they demonstrated that the universe had a beginning and was not eternal. Hawking’s latter theories regarding cosmology (how the universe began) did not find wide acceptance among his peers and those who work in the field of cosmology because it is generally acknowledged that Prof. Hawking committed two errors. Firstly, he presupposed that ‘laws’ have creative power, and secondly, for his theory to be established he had to redefine nothing as having positive properties in which gravity could exist. Clearly his assumption about nothing begs the question because it fails to account for what caused these positive properties to exist without themselves being caused. And while we refer to observable, repeatable, testable, universal, physical interactions, such as gravity, as ‘laws’, this is a man-made designation and the ‘law’ itself possesses no mind which is a necessary and essential attribute for a First Cause.

How old is the universe in the Bible?

The universe may well be 13,700,000,000 years old, and mankind’s origins may well be as recent as 150,000 – 200,000 years ago. These numbers are in no way counter to the Biblical record, and extremely compatible with the evidence. (See, “Who Was Adam?” by Dr. Fazale Rana, and Dr Hugh Ross, RTB Press, 2015, p. 66-67.)

What does the Bible say about humanity?

The Bible diagnoses humanity’s deepest need and then prescribes what it claims is the only antidote: God saves sinners.

How many baryons are there in the universe?

But, it is also evident that the universe is too limited to have created man. The universe contains no more than 1080 baryons (Baryons are protons and other fundamental particles, such as neutrons, that decay into protons) and has been in existence for no more than 1018 seconds….

What evidence did Professor Flew use to renounce atheism?

the existence of life demanding a Life-Source, and 2. the scientific evidence of an extremely complex code in the make-up of that life- DNA) were enough for Professor Flew to renounce atheism. .

Why did Professor Flew say that the DNA genome code was unraveled?

One of the reasons cited by Prof. Flew was ‘the evidence.’ He admitted that for a long time the growing problem of Evolution’s inability to explain how life began, or for that matter, how anything began, led him to the inevitable conclusion that it was an inadequate answer in the face of the evidence. Then when the DNA Genome code was unraveled the evidence for Design became “undeniable.” These two pieces of evidence (1. the existence of life demanding a Life-Source, and 2. the scientific evidence of an extremely complex code in the make-up of that life- DNA) were enough for Professor Flew to renounce atheism.

Who is the most convincing proof of God's existence?

Thomas Aquinas ’s Five Proofs of the Existence of God. Five classic arguments from medieval theologian and philosopher Thomas Aquinas are among the most convincing proofs of the existence of God. The existence of God has long been a subject of great interest to people around the world.

What are Thomas Aquinas' 5 proofs of the existence of God?

Thomas Aquinas’s Five Proofs of the Existence of God. Building on the logic of legendary philosopher Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas outlined compelling reasons for people to embrace the existence of God. Thomas Aquinas’s arguments for God consisted of:

Who Was Thomas Aquinas?

Thomas Aquinas (also known as Thomas of Aquin or Aquino) was an Italian Dominican priest of the medieval Catholic Church. The name “Aquinas” is not a surname, but rather a name given to him by virtue of his place of origin.

What is the pyramid of the universe?

The universe contains a pyramid of beings (from simple, basic organisms to advanced organisms such as humans). This “ever-increasing degree of perfection” points toward a final being that must be perfect and ideal.

What is the cosmological argument?

Based on the premises that every effect has a cause and that everything that begins to exist or happen is an effect, the cosmological argument holds that there must be an ultimate First Cause.

Is everything dependent on something else?

Everything that exists does so in relation to other things. Within this observed network of relationships, everything that exists is dependent on something else. However, an infinite regress of such relationships is contradictory and impossible. There must be a “necessary being” which is contingent on nothing else for its existence.

Is God a subject of great interest?

The existence of God has long been a subject of great interest to people around the world. Numerous theologians, philosophers and everyday observers have advanced arguments for and against the likelihood that an all-powerful Deity reigns over the universe.

What is proof in physiology?

Proof in physiology is different to the type of proof needed for psychology. Proof in philosophy is different to the proof required for philology. Proof required for bi ology is different to the type of proof required for theology. To demand that “hard” science (physics, biology, chemistry, astronomy) proof tests be the only acceptable means ...

What do atheists claim is their scientific basis for unbelief?

In this way we observe that what some atheists claim is their scientific basis for unbelief is nothing more than belief in opinions rather than evidence. Thus despite the mass of evidence to the contrary, many atheists refuse to accept that origin of life is best explained by appears to be obvious (a Designer/Creator).

What did Jesus say about the benefits of following Him?

He offered “rest” for the weary, “nourishment” for the hungry, “water” for the thirsty, “resurrection” for the dead, “direction” for aimless, “liberty” for the oppressed, “protection” for the vulnerable, “healing” for the hurting, and “salvation” for the lost.

What is evidence for design?

2. design. There is evidence for design... The unraveling of the Human Genome Code was announced to the world as the discovery of the language of the Creator by then President, Bill Clinton. What scientists discovered was an extremely sophisticated genetic language necessary for even the simplest life forms to exist.

How old is the universe?

The universe may well be 13,000,000,000 years old, and mankind’s origins may well be as recent as 90,000 – 60,000 years ago.

Is a natural proof test unreasonable?

Thus, imposing natural proof tests on supernatural claims is an unreasonable measure and totally inadequate.

Is atheism irrational?

At the very least it should be reasonably concluded that atheism (the absolute claim that there is no God after considering all possible knowledge) is a highly irrational position. The following is reasonable evidence for accepting that there is indeed a Personal Omnipotent God as described in the Christian Bible-.

What are the two things that are connected to the Greek mythology?

In Greek mythology thunder and lightning were connected to the anger of Zeus who was hurling lightning bolts at the ground, tidal waves and tsunamis were connected to the wrath of Poseidon while earthquakes and volcanic eruptions were associated with the Titans being sealed deep underground by the Gods who were trying to escape their prison (Usher 292). In fact human history is littered with natural occurrences being explained away as being the result of divine intervention rather than a simple scientific cause.

What are the ancient myths connected to?

Not only that ancient myths connected to the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Vikings all state the existence of Gods that control the very essence of life and death itself creating humanity in the process. Historical scripture in the form of the Koran, Torah and Bible, all of which are thousands of years old, all point to the existence of an all powerful entity that created the world, performed miracles beyond imagination and is the source of salvation for humanity (Haldane 381).

What is the teleological argument?

The teleological argument states that all natural bodies in the world work toward some predetermined goal, even animals such a birds seem to explicitly know where to go when its winter its water, what is ok to eat and where they can fish (Higgins 609).

What are the two categories of everything in the world?

Under this particular concept it is perceived that everything in the world is divided under two specific categories that which is in motion and that which could potentially be put into motion.

Is God real?

The concept of God has eluded, fascinated and enthralled humanity since time immemorial yet despite the amount of attention, speculation and religious doctrine used to conceptualize the concept of an all powerful being there has been no definitive proof that actually shows that God is real. Based on this one must wonder whether it is rational to believe and place absolute faith in an entity that for all intents and purposes has not been proven beyond the shadow of a doubt to actually exist.

Is there need for a contingent being in existence?

Therefore it can be assumed that there is need for a being currently in existence to bring about a contingent being that is in nothingness . Powloski clarifies this idea by stating “since everything in nature shifts between existing and not existing it can be assumed that at one time in the past nothing existed however such an argument is highly improbable since right now we are currently existing if there was a period where nothing existed there would not have been an existence to bring us into being” (Powlowski 17).

How many proofs does Aquinas have?

It contains Aquinas' Five Proofs for the existence of God. Considered one of the most important works in Western literature, the proofs of Summa Theologica are as follows. Proof one - The Proof of Motion. This states something in motion had to be set in motion. Aquinas tells us God is the ultimate mover. God brought the first motion.

What is Aquinas' last proof?

Aquinas' last proof is the Proof from Design. This one is easy. It simply poses the complexity of the universe proves God exists. To put it very simply, birds don't fly south by chance, and the Earth didn't just happen to come upon the exact distance from the sun that makes life possible.

What is proof 3?

Moving on, proof three is the Proof of Contingency vs. Necessity.

What is the proof of causality?

Sort of similar to the Proof of Motion, the Proof of Causality argues that everything that is has been made. Stated a bit differently, someone caused it to come into being. Yes, some things have lots of makers, but ultimately there must be one supreme maker who made all the other makers!

What is the proof of motion?

Proof one: The Proof of Motion. Stated very simply, the proof of motion says something in motion had to be set in motion. In other words, if something is moving, someone or something had to move it. For instance, a car moves because a foot pushes the gas.

Who believed that the workings of the cosmos could not have occurred by chance?

Aquinas believed the workings of the cosmos could not have occurred by chance. There is an ultimate creator, and that creator is God. Learning Outcomes. Watch and study this lesson on the five proofs of God, and you could subsequently realize these goals:

Who said there must be one ultimate power that is necessary?

Based on this, Aquinas asserted there must be one ultimate power that is necessary. There must be one being who keeps all of us contingent beings chugging along. Again, his answer is God. God is the one necessary being in the midst of all us contingent ones.

What is the existence of a particular desire within us?

The existence of a particular desire within us is evidence of the existence of that thing. For example, the desire for food proves that food exists. We love sunshine because the sun is real and feeling the sun on our faces makes us happy. We don’t desire things that don’t exist. The longings we feel point to realities outside of us.

What was the most extraordinary thing Jesus did?

The most extraordinary thing Jesus did was rise from the dead Himself. He told His disciples multiple times that He was going to die and rise from the dead ( Matthew 16:21, Matthew 17:23, etc.).

Is order and excellence the result of evolution?

The order and excellence of the human body are not the result of accidental evolution. Order and beauty don’t accidentally spring from chaos. When we see an intricate painting, we know that it was created by a brilliant artist. Even if we don’t see the painter, experience tells us that such a thing couldn’t come about by accident.

Can the universe come from nothing?

The universe could not come into existence out of nothing. Both science and experience tell us that something cannot come from nothing.

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Introduction

Understanding The Concept of The Unmoved Mover

Understanding The Argument of The First Cause

Understanding The Argument of Contingency

Understanding The Argument of Degree

The Teleological Argument

Comparing Scientific Examination to The Arguments of Aquinas

Conclusion

  • After elaborating on the five proofs of God’s existence and combining them in an examination of current scientific reasoning it can be said that it is rational to believe in the concept of God based on the philosophical arguments of St. Thomas Aquinas. Earlier on it was mentioned that it would be irrational to believe in something that did not exis...
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Works Cited

1.Aquinas’s Five Proofs for the Existence of God – …

Url:https://open.library.okstate.edu/introphilosophy/chapter/aquinass-five-proofs-for-the-existence-of-god/

17 hours ago  · Aquinas responds to this question by offering the following five proofs: 1. The Argument from Motion: Our senses can perceive motion by seeing that things act on one …

2.5 Proofs For God's Existence which persuaded a …

Url:https://www.andrewcorbett.net/articles/apologetics/5-proofs-for-the-existence-of-god/

27 hours ago 4 rows · He offered “rest” for the weary, “nourishment” for the hungry, “water” for the thirsty, ...

3.Videos of What Are The Five Proofs of Gods Existence

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35 hours ago  · This is also called “Aquinas’ Five Proofs for God’s Existence”. These five arguments draw proof or evidence from man’s experience with the world, which are noticeably …

4.The 5 Proofs For The Existence of God. - Biblical Thinking …

Url:https://www.andrewcorbett.net/articles/5-proofs-existence-god/

21 hours ago  · In this article of the Summa Theologica, we find St. Thomas Aquinas’ famous five proofs for the existence of God as he answers the question, “Whether God Exists?“. Objection …

5.The Five Proofs of God's Existence - 2067 Words | Essay …

Url:https://ivypanda.com/essays/god-2/

33 hours ago  · Aquinas never intended the five proofs to be a comprehensive defense of Christianity. He simply posits them as five ways we can discern the existence of a First Mover, …

6.St. Thomas Aquinas' Five Proofs of God - Study.com

Url:https://study.com/academy/lesson/st-thomas-aquinas-five-proofs-of-god.html

17 hours ago

7.Is God Real? Proof of God's Existence - Love Worth Finding

Url:https://www.lwf.org/who-is-god-what-is-he-like/is-god-real-proof-of-god-existence

31 hours ago

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