Title: The Case for God: Knowing God Exists
1The Case for God Knowing God Exists
- Kedron E. Jones
- Apologetics Research Society
www.evidenceforchristianity.org
2A Brief History of Philosophy
- The question of Gods existence is a question of
interest not only to religion but also to
philosophy.
3A Brief History of Philosophy
- Questions about Metaphysics (What is the origin
of the universe?).
4A Brief History of Philosophy
- Questions about Epistemology (i.e., How do we
know what we know is true?).
5A Brief History of Philosophy
- Questions about Ethics (i.e., What is good and
what is evil?).
6A Brief History of Philosophy
- Everyone has a philosophy of life called a
worldview.
7What Is A Worldview?
- A Worldview is a lens through which we see the
world. - All Worldviews have axioms.
81st Axiom of Atheism Metaphysics
91st Axiom of Atheism Metaphysics
- God makes sense of the origin of the universe
101st Axiom of Atheism Metaphysics
- The Cosmological Argument
- Whatever begin to exist has a cause.
- 2. The universe begin to exist.
- 3. Therefore, the universe has a cause.
112nd Axiom of Atheism Epistemology
- Science is the sole source of knowledge and the
sole arbiter of truth. - Science proves everything eventually, and your
denying that is just funny and sad at the same
time. http//forum.thatfatatheist.com/topic/891
3172/1/
122nd Axiom of Atheism Epistemology
- Ways of Knowing
- 1. Empirical Knowledge (e.g., Science)
- 2. Reason (e.g., Square Circles are
contradictory) - 3. Intuition (e.g., John, Mary Tom)
- 4. Authority (e.g., people, books, a supreme
being, etc.).
132nd Axiom of Atheism Epistemology
- What Science Cannot Prove
- 1. Logical Mathematical Truths
- 2. Metaphysical Truths
- 3. Ethical Beliefs
- 4. Aesthetic Judgments
- 5. Science Itself
142nd Axiom of Atheism Epistemology
- Atheism Truth Claims
- Atheism cannot account for laws of logic.
- Atheism cannot account for the uniformity of
nature. - Ultimately, there is a tremendous amount of
uncertainty!
152nd Axiom of Atheism Epistemology
- God is the best explanation for truth claims
163rd Axiom of Atheism Ethics
- Ethics (i.e., What is good and what is evil?).
- Right and wrong are a matter of opinion, and as
a result, at the end of the day, their intentions
are the only thing that matters. - http//www.fighunter.com/index.php?pagecomment_si
nglec52473
173rd Axiom of Atheism Ethics
- ethics arises from the pressures of the
community on the individual. Mandoes not always
instinctively feel the desires which are useful
to his herd. The herd, being anxious that the
individual should act in its interests, has
invented various devices for causing the
individuals interest to be in harmony with that
of the herd. One of theseis morality.
183rd Axiom of Atheism Ethics
- I appreciate that when somebody says Love thy
neighbor as thyself, they think they are
referring above and beyond themselves.
Nevertheless, such reference is truly without
foundation, Morality is just an aid to survival
and reproductionany deeper meaning is illusory.
193rd Axiom of Atheism Ethics
- What is the Basis of Our Values?
- Social Convention?
- Personal Preference?
- Evolution?
- God?
- If God does not exist then all we are, are
accidental by-products of nature.
203rd Axiom of Atheism Ethics
- God Makes Sense of Objective Moral Values in the
World
213rd Axiom of Atheism Ethics
- The Moral Argument
- If there is no God then objective moral values do
not exist. - Objective moral values do exist.
- Therefore, God exist.
22The Christian Axiom
And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching
is useless and so is your faith 1 Corinthians
1514
23Historical Case for the Resurrection
- The Two Step Process
- Determine what is the evidence to be explained.
- Inferring which explanation of the evidence is
the best explanation.
24Historical Case for the Resurrection
- The Evidence
- Jesus empty tomb.
- Jesus appearances alive after His death.
- The origin of the disciples belief in His
resurrection. - The best explanation of these facts is that God
raised Jesus from the dead!
25Historical Case for the Resurrection
- Evidence 1 Empty Tomb
- The Disciples stole Jesus body (Matt. 2811-15).
If true then they died for what they knew was
untrue. - Jewish/Roman authorities moved the body. Romans
wanted to keep peace and the Jews wanted a guard
(Matt. 27). - Christ did not really die, he was mistakenly
reported as dead.
26Historical Case for the Resurrection
- Evidence 2 Appearance of Jesus
- Jesus appeared to over 500 people during a 40 day
period at different places. - Jewish or Roman authorities could have simply
paraded Jesus body around the city? That would
have stopped the spread of the Christian message
before it even started!
27Historical Case for the Resurrection
- Evidence 3 Belief in His resurrection
- Jews had no conception of a Messiah who, instead
of triumphing over Israels enemies, would be
shamefully executed as a criminal. - Either people were lying, hallucinating or they
were telling the truth. - The most reasonable explanation is that they were
telling the truth.
28Why It Makes a Difference that God Exist
- If God does not exist then life is ultimately
meaningless. - If God does not exist then we must ultimately
live with no hope. - If God does exist then not only does life have
meaning and hope, but we can know Him personally.
29Questions Answers
30Answering the Fool
- Proverbs 264-5
- Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or
you will be like him yourself. - Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will
be wise in his own eyes.
31Answering the Fool