““Say What?” Series: Say What?” Series: Is there a God?Is there a God?

Bill AkrightBill AkrightB.S. MathematicsB.S. Mathematics

M.S. Industrial EngineeringM.S. Industrial Engineering

Can God’s Existence be Proved?Can God’s Existence be Proved?

Proof is a rather subjective commodity.Proof is a rather subjective commodity.

God’s existence cannot be proved in a God’s existence cannot be proved in a mathematical or scientific sense.mathematical or scientific sense.

Instead we should ask if belief in God’s Instead we should ask if belief in God’s existence is existence is reasonablereasonable. .

Life Without God?Life Without God?

Each of us will one day grow old, die, and Each of us will one day grow old, die, and our bodies our bodies disintegratedisintegrate. What then?. What then?

If the moral and the immoral eventually If the moral and the immoral eventually come to the same end, what does it matter come to the same end, what does it matter how we live our lives?how we live our lives?

Life Without God?Life Without God?

““No species, ours included, possesses a No species, ours included, possesses a

purposepurpose beyond the imperatives created by its beyond the imperatives created by its

genetic history…we have no particular place genetic history…we have no particular place

to go.”to go.”

E. O. WilsonE. O. Wilson

Life Without God?Life Without God?

““There are only three types of people; those who There are only three types of people; those who have found God and serve him; those who have not have found God and serve him; those who have not found God and seek him, and those who live not found God and seek him, and those who live not seeking, or finding him. The first are rational and seeking, or finding him. The first are rational and happy; the second unhappy and rational, and the happy; the second unhappy and rational, and the third foolish and unhappy.”third foolish and unhappy.”

Blaise PascalBlaise Pascal

Evidence for GodEvidence for God

The Cosmological ArgumentThe Cosmological Argument

The Teleological ArgumentThe Teleological Argument

The Moral ArgumentThe Moral Argument

Cosmological Argument: Why Is Cosmological Argument: Why Is There Something Rather than There Something Rather than Nothing?Nothing? The universe had a The universe had a beginningbeginning..

Anything that had a beginning must have been caused by something Anything that had a beginning must have been caused by something else.else.

Therefore the universe was caused by something else (a Creator).Therefore the universe was caused by something else (a Creator).

Cosmology’s Big Bang“Horrendous space kablooie”

Calvin

Cosmology’s Big Bang“Horrendous space kablooie”

Calvin

“The universe began as a ‘The universe began as a ‘particleparticle’ that ’ that

was infinitely dense and occupied no was infinitely dense and occupied no

space.”space.”

Cosmology’s Big BangCosmology’s Big Bang

Something must be eternalSomething must be eternal

The material universe had a beginning and, The material universe had a beginning and, therefore, is not eternaltherefore, is not eternal

Something Something immaterialimmaterial, spiritual, or , spiritual, or supernatural MUST be eternalsupernatural MUST be eternal

ReactionsReactions

““Philosophically, the notion of a beginning is Philosophically, the notion of a beginning is repugnant to me. . . . I should like to find a genuine repugnant to me. . . . I should like to find a genuine loophole.” “We [must] allow evolution an infinite loophole.” “We [must] allow evolution an infinite time to get started.” time to get started.”

Sir Arthur EddingtonSir Arthur Eddington

““It is simpler to postulate creation ex nihilo- divine It is simpler to postulate creation ex nihilo- divine will constituting nature out of nothingness.” will constituting nature out of nothingness.”

Edmund WhitakerEdmund Whitaker

““For the scientist who has lived by For the scientist who has lived by his his faithfaith in the power of reason, in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of He has scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of greeted by a band of theologians theologians who have been sitting there for who have been sitting there for centuries.”centuries.”

Robert Robert JastrowJastrow

““For the scientist who has lived by For the scientist who has lived by his his faithfaith in the power of reason, in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of He has scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of greeted by a band of theologians theologians who have been sitting there for who have been sitting there for centuries.”centuries.”

Robert Robert JastrowJastrow

Teleological Argument: Is the Teleological Argument: Is the Universe and Life Designed?Universe and Life Designed?

Is the Universe and Life Is the Universe and Life Designed?Designed?““I think that the most impressive arguments for I think that the most impressive arguments for God’s existence are those that are supported by God’s existence are those that are supported by recent scientific discoveries…I think the argument to recent scientific discoveries…I think the argument to Intelligent Design is enormously stronger than it was Intelligent Design is enormously stronger than it was when I first met it.” when I first met it.”

Anthony FlewAnthony Flew

Anthony Flew - legendary British philosopher and atheist and Anthony Flew - legendary British philosopher and atheist and has been anhas been an

icon and champion for unbelievers for decades. His change of icon and champion for unbelievers for decades. His change of mind is mind is

significant news, not only about his personal journey, but also significant news, not only about his personal journey, but also about the about the

persuasive power of the arguments modern theists have been persuasive power of the arguments modern theists have been using to using to

challenge atheistic naturalism.challenge atheistic naturalism.

DistanceDistance from the sun from the sun

Size, temperature, & type of sunSize, temperature, & type of sun

Size, axial tilt, rotation speed, moon, & composition of earthSize, axial tilt, rotation speed, moon, & composition of earth

Stability of Jupiter and SaturnStability of Jupiter and Saturn– Jupiter acts as a comet and asteroid Jupiter acts as a comet and asteroid magnetmagnet shielding earth from catastrophic shielding earth from catastrophic

collisions.collisions.

A “Just Right” UniverseA “Just Right” Universe51 Fine-tuned Parameters to our Galaxy, Solar 51 Fine-tuned Parameters to our Galaxy, Solar

System, and PlanetSystem, and Planet

Our sun is located between spiral Our sun is located between spiral arms of the Milky Way Galaxyarms of the Milky Way Galaxy– Fewer stars Fewer stars

• less harmful radiation and disruptive gravity less harmful radiation and disruptive gravity

– Less gas and dust Less gas and dust • we can see the rest of the galaxy and we can see the rest of the galaxy and

universeuniverse

Probability that just one planet in the Probability that just one planet in the Universe is suitable for life?Universe is suitable for life?– 10 10 -166-166 x 10 x 10 2222 = 1 in 10 = 1 in 10 144144

• 1 in 101 in 10 166 - 166 - Probability of all 123 fine-tuned Probability of all 123 fine-tuned “Universal” parameters occurring by chance“Universal” parameters occurring by chance

• 10 10 2222 - Upper limit for planets in the - Upper limit for planets in the universeuniverse

A “Just Right” UniverseA “Just Right” Universe

A “Just Right” UniverseA “Just Right” UniverseA “Just Right” UniverseA “Just Right” Universe 1 in 101 in 10161 161

– The probability of a single protein molecule being The probability of a single protein molecule being arranged by chance using all atoms on earth and allowing arranged by chance using all atoms on earth and allowing all the time since the world began.all the time since the world began.

1 in 101 in 10119,879119,879 – Probability for a minimum set of the required 239 protein Probability for a minimum set of the required 239 protein

molecules for the smallest theoretical life.molecules for the smallest theoretical life.

1010119,879119,879 Years Years – Average time it would take to get a set of such proteins.Average time it would take to get a set of such proteins.

Dr. James CoppedgeDr. James Coppedge

““If we need an atheist for a debate, I go to If we need an atheist for a debate, I go to the philosophy department. The physics the philosophy department. The physics department isn’t much use.”department isn’t much use.”

Robert GriffithsRobert Griffiths

““If we need an atheist for a debate, I go to If we need an atheist for a debate, I go to the philosophy department. The physics the philosophy department. The physics department isn’t much use.”department isn’t much use.”

Robert GriffithsRobert Griffiths

A “Just Right” UniverseA “Just Right” UniverseA “Just Right” UniverseA “Just Right” Universe

““As we survey all the evidence, the thought As we survey all the evidence, the thought insistently arises that some supernatural insistently arises that some supernatural agency - or rather Agency - must be agency - or rather Agency - must be involved. Is it possible that suddenly, involved. Is it possible that suddenly, without intending to, we have stumbled without intending to, we have stumbled upon upon scientific proofscientific proof of the existence of a of the existence of a Supreme Being?”Supreme Being?”

George George

GreensteinGreenstein

““As we survey all the evidence, the thought As we survey all the evidence, the thought insistently arises that some supernatural insistently arises that some supernatural agency - or rather Agency - must be agency - or rather Agency - must be involved. Is it possible that suddenly, involved. Is it possible that suddenly, without intending to, we have stumbled without intending to, we have stumbled upon upon scientific proofscientific proof of the existence of a of the existence of a Supreme Being?”Supreme Being?”

George George

GreensteinGreenstein

A “Just Right” UniverseA “Just Right” UniverseA “Just Right” UniverseA “Just Right” Universe

Irreducible ComplexityIrreducible Complexity

Mike Behe introduced the concept of irreducible complexity in his book, Darwin’s Black Box.

Something is irreducibly complex if it is composed of two or more necessary parts.– Remove one part and function is not just impaired but

destroyed.

A mousetrap is irreducibly complex.

Darwin’s Black BoxDarwin’s Black Box

Behe showed that the cell, Darwin’s Black Box, is filled with irreducibly complex molecular machines that could not be built by natural selection.

Over 100 molecular motors are now known to exist inside the cell with very specific analogies to human designed motors.

Cellular High-Tech FactoryCellular High-Tech Factory

Artificial languages and decoding Central memory banks Precision control of automatic assembly Proofreading and quality control Prefabrication and modular construction Complete replication system 10-3 times smaller than our best computers

““It seems to me that Richard Dawkins constantly It seems to me that Richard Dawkins constantly overlooks the fact that Darwin himself, in the overlooks the fact that Darwin himself, in the fourteenth chapter of The Origin of Species, pointed fourteenth chapter of The Origin of Species, pointed out that his whole argument began with a being out that his whole argument began with a being which already possessed reproductive powers. This which already possessed reproductive powers. This is the creature the evolution of which a truly is the creature the evolution of which a truly comprehensive theory of evolution must give some comprehensive theory of evolution must give some account. Darwin himself was well aware that he had account. Darwin himself was well aware that he had not produced such an account. It now seems to me not produced such an account. It now seems to me that the findings of more than fifty years of DNA that the findings of more than fifty years of DNA research have provided materials for a new and research have provided materials for a new and enormously powerful argument to design.”enormously powerful argument to design.”

Anthony FlewAnthony Flew

The Moral Argument: Is There a The Moral Argument: Is There a Law Written on Our Hearts?Law Written on Our Hearts?

Moral laws imply a Moral Law Giver.

There is an objective moral law.

Therefore, there is a Moral Law Giver

Moral Laws Imply a Moral Moral Laws Imply a Moral LawgiverLawgiver

Moral Laws are different from natural laws. Moral laws describe what ought to be not

what is.

““Human beings all over the earth, have this Human beings all over the earth, have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way, and cannot really get rid of it.”certain way, and cannot really get rid of it.”

C. S. Lewis –C. S. Lewis –Mere ChristianityMere Christianity

There Is an Objective Moral LawThere Is an Objective Moral Law

““If no set of moral ideas were truer or better than any other, If no set of moral ideas were truer or better than any other, there would be no sense in preferring civilized morality to there would be no sense in preferring civilized morality to savage morality, or Christian morality to Nazi morality. In savage morality, or Christian morality to Nazi morality. In fact, of course, we all do believe that some moralities are fact, of course, we all do believe that some moralities are better than others. . . . The moment you say that one set of better than others. . . . The moment you say that one set of moral ideas can be better than another, you are, in fact, moral ideas can be better than another, you are, in fact, measuring them both by a measuring them both by a standardstandard . . . comparing them both . . . comparing them both with some Real Morality, admitting that there is such a thing with some Real Morality, admitting that there is such a thing as a real right, independent of what people think, and that as a real right, independent of what people think, and that some people’s ideas get nearer to that real Right than some people’s ideas get nearer to that real Right than others.”others.”

C. S. Lewis, C. S. Lewis, Mere ChristianityMere Christianity

There is an Objective Moral LawThere is an Objective Moral Law

Was September 11th wrong? For all people and all time?

But if there is such a universal, objective moral law, then there must be a Moral Law Giver.

SummarySummary

Life without God is absurd. The universe requires a sufficient Cause. The design of the universe and living things

implies a designer. Our universal sense of right and wrong

implies a Law Giver. Therefore belief in God is reasonable.

““I am very much impressed with physicist I am very much impressed with physicist Gerald Gerald

Schroeder’s comments on Genesis. That this Schroeder’s comments on Genesis. That this biblical biblical

account might be scientifically accurate account might be scientifically accurate raises the raises the

possibility that it is revelation.possibility that it is revelation.””

Anthony FlewAnthony Flew

A God Who Has Made Himself A God Who Has Made Himself KnownKnownA God Who Has Made Himself A God Who Has Made Himself KnownKnown

““For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal

power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood

through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.  For even through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.  For even

though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but

they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was

darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged

the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible

man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so

that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged

the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather

than the Creator, who is blessed forever. ”than the Creator, who is blessed forever. ”

Romans Romans 1:20-251:20-25

A God Who Has Made Himself A God Who Has Made Himself Known in CreationKnown in CreationA God Who Has Made Himself A God Who Has Made Himself Known in CreationKnown in Creation

““Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed

in the presence of the disciples, which are not in the presence of the disciples, which are not

written in this book;  but these have been written so written in this book;  but these have been written so

that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son

of God; and that believing you may have life in His of God; and that believing you may have life in His

name.”name.”

John 20:31-32John 20:31-32

A God Who Has Made Himself A God Who Has Made Himself Known through ScriptureKnown through ScriptureA God Who Has Made Himself A God Who Has Made Himself Known through ScriptureKnown through Scripture

““In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the

prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last

days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir

of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The

Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact

representation of his being, sustaining all things by his representation of his being, sustaining all things by his

powerful word.”powerful word.”

Hebrews Hebrews 1:1-31:1-3

A God Who Has Made Himself A God Who Has Made Himself Known in the Person of JesusKnown in the Person of JesusA God Who Has Made Himself A God Who Has Made Himself Known in the Person of JesusKnown in the Person of Jesus

““There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man

which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God,

the Creator, made known through Jesus.”the Creator, made known through Jesus.”

Blaise PascalBlaise Pascal

““Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My

voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine

with him, and he with Me.” with him, and he with Me.”

Revelation Revelation 3:203:20

A God Who Has Made Himself A God Who Has Made Himself KnownKnownA God Who Has Made Himself A God Who Has Made Himself KnownKnown

Further questions…contact:Further questions…contact:

Bill AkrightBill Akright

Email: Email: akright4@insightbb.com

Website: Website: http://www.bethanycentral.org/resources/

For a copy of this presentation, click on “Apologetics For a copy of this presentation, click on “Apologetics

Resources” folder and select “Evidence for God”.Resources” folder and select “Evidence for God”.

““Say What?” Series: Say What?” Series: Is there a God?Is there a God?