Patrick Angelo Amable

Paper

TTH 4:10 5:40

Philo 106 Final

The first argument that was presented over which proves the existence of God is known as the Ontological
Argument. The type of argumentation used in this argument is called a priori argument. This argument is based upon
the definition and understanding of God through the analysis of what we already know about God. This argument
does not rely on the facts about the world. Proslogion, which was authored by Anselm, is considered as one of the
great classic pieces that embodies the Ontological Argument. According to Anselm, God is a being than which none
greater can be imagined. God exists as an idea in the mind. If God exists only as an idea in the mind, then we can
imagine something that is greater than God. But we cannot imagine something that is greater than God. Therefore,
God exist.
The second argument that was presented over which proves the existence of God is known as the
Cosmological Argument. Unlike the first argument, the argumentation used in this argument is called a posteriori
argument. This argument seeks to understand the existence of God through understanding the world around us, the
cosmos. In this argument, an entity that exists, there is a reason or explanation for the existence of that entity. The
Universe came into existence. Hence there must be a reason for it to exist. St. Thomas Aquinas, in his work The
Five Ways, established that a thing exist and has a cause for its existence. That cause, also has another cause to begin
with. And again, that cause has another cause. However, this does not go on infinitely. There must be a being who
caused all of things to exist, known as the First Cause. According to Aquinas, this being that we talk about is God.
Therefore, God exist.
The third argument that was presented over which proves the existence of God is known as the Teleological
Argument or argument from design. This argument perceives God as the designer of the universe. Everything that
He created was designed intelligently and with great complexity. Therefore, the universe is not a product of chance
(as evidently proposed by the Theory of Evolution). In addition to the intelligently designed and complexity, the
universe were created to meet end goals, which He himself. William Paley, in his work Natural Theology: Evidences
of the Existence and Attributes of the Deity, he made the analogy of the relationship of God and the universe to a
watch and a watchmaker. According to Paley, a watch was designed intricately and with great complexity by a
watchmaker, the same way the universe was designed intricately and with great complexity by God.
The fourth argument that was presented over which proves the existence of God is known as the argument
from conscience. It should be noted that in this argument, God is not presented as a God of the philosopher, which
is a product of constant intellectual, logical and systematic analysis and scrutinization of God in the academe. In this
argument, it is inferred that the existence of God can be derived out of the voices in a persons head called
conscience. It is possible to have a relationship with Him through the conscience that is built right into us. According
to John Henry Newman, the author of An Essay in Aid of a Grammar of Assent, faith in God should be based on the
belief of the believer. According to him, religious belief is not a result of logical arguments such as proofs and
analysis of the existence of God, but rather lived through experience. God is inside us as if He saw everything. He is
considered a Supreme Governor and a Judge that reigns over as in our conscience.
The fifth argument that was presented over which proves the existence of God is known as Pragmatic
Argument. In this argument, the benefits of believing or not believing in God is put into consideration. It analyzes
whether the benefits of believing in God outweighs the benefits of not believing in God. In his work, the Pensees,
Blaise Pascal related the chance of God existing to Probability Theory (a branch of mathematics that he himself
helped pioneered) and to a game of betting. There is a 50/50 chance of God existing, same also to God not existing.
If a person bet on God existing and proved that there really is a God, then he would won everlasting truth,
enjoyment and happiness in life. If a person bet on God not existing and God does not truly exist, then he simply
have no reward in the end. There is no end result of betting with God not existing. It is outright beneficial to believe
in God rather not believing at all.
The sixth argument that was presented over which proves the existence of God is known as the argument
from lifes crucial junctures. In this argument, we try to find God in life experiences. These experiences may be
crucial and move us to see God within those experiences. It can be a near-death experience, a period of
enlightenment, or maybe a significant time that made changes in ones life. In The Experience of the Holy and the
Idea of God, John E Smith tried to explore these kinds of experiences. He made a distinction regarding experiences
that are Holy while the other is profane. He focused on the experiences that are Holy, which shows itself
through awe-inspiring experiences. In these experiences, we may find to see God.
The seventh argument that was presented over which proves the existence of God is known as the
argument from religious experience. This argument examines religious experience, which includes participating in
religious rites and ceremonies, using religious artifacts and paraphernalia, religious monuments and markers, and to
find God and the essence of religion in those experiences. Rudolf Otto, in his book, The Idea of the Holy, he
distinguished the rational and the non-rational side of religion. The rational side of religion refers to the intellectual,
logical and objective side of religion that most intellectuals of his time were focused on, which scales down God
into the norms of human reasoning. Rudolf Otto appealed to focus on the non-rational side of religion, which
focuses on the majestic and holy nature of God. However, he related that the rational and the non-rational side of
religion must co-exist so that the religion can still find its connection to the reality in the lives of the people. Without
this, people might lose interest in believing in God or affiliate himself/herself to a particular religion.

The seven arguments have been the battleground of theists and atheists on whether God exists or not. Some
arguments have been fought with logic and intellectual analysis of the nature of God (such as in the Ontological and
Cosmological arguments). Some arguments have been fought with scientific theories and discoveries that support or
disprove God (such as in the Teleological argument). Some arguments have been fought using personal
consciousness in the mind (such as in the argument from conscience). Some arguments have been fought by
incorporating human experiences and trying to find God in those experiences (such as in argument from lifes
crucial junctures and argument from religious experience). Some of the arguments were fought in an objective
manner (such as in the Ontological, Cosmological, and Teleological arguments). While on the other hand, some of
the arguments were subjective in nature (such as in the argument from conscience, argument from lifes crucial
junctures, and argument from religious experience). Although there were great argumentation coming from both
sides in all of the seven arguments, there is still no clear victor in this never-ending debate about the existence and
nature of God.
If we take a look at the seven arguments that were presented that proves that God exists or not, not only can
we prove that God does or does not exist, we can also see and analyze His characteristics, assuming that He does
exist. We can say that the seven arguments are somehow interconnected to each other. We can prove the analytical
and logical propositions and justification of Gods existence through the Ontological and Cosmological arguments.
We can tell that God is an intelligent being through the Teleological argument or argument from design. We can tell
how God can communicate to people and how He helps us in making judgments in the argument from conscience.
We can analyze the benefits of believing in Him in the Pragmatic argument. We can describe how God moves us
through our own experiences in the argument from lifes crucial junctures. We can describe the feeling when we are
in Gods holy presence in the argument from religious experience. There are probably a number of ways that we can
describe God through the use of these seven arguments.
As I study these seven arguments, I can help myself to be biased towards my belief that God really does
exist. Although there are propositions coming from the atheists concerning the criticism towards the justifications of
the theists stand about the existence of God that are really strong and potent, I am still unfazed and steadfast
towards my belief that God really do exist and has been part of the universe since time immemorial. I can attest to
the intellectuals clamor for rationale toward the existence of God since He is not visible to any of us. It seems to me
that they adhere to to see is to believe kind of mentality. Just like the intellectuals, who only use empirical
judgments to examine the natural phenomenon around us, I too, find truth in the atheists beliefs since most of these
judgments are tied in the reality that we all live in. But, I just cant help myself to not believe in all them. Putting
God in those sentiments would make Him not a God at all. I have so much respect for God that I cannot dare myself
to put God in that way. It would make God as an excuse for our apathy towards the world that we live in. God does
not need to be proven that He exist. It would diminish His divine nature. The universe is more than enough of a
proof that He exist. We ourselves is enough of a proof that there is a God. Even if it was proven that there is no God,
believing something in an entity that covers up all our imperfections and help us in overcoming these imperfections.
However, I respect the atheists stand towards the existence of God. I just hope that one day, God would reveal to us
through rational, logical, and scientific evidences and may these evidences help them to enlighten the nature and
divinity of God.
I am affirming my stand that there is a Supreme Being out there, may it be God the Father, Allah, Yahweh,
Jehovah, Elohim, or any other names that refer to that Supreme Being, waiting to be revealed to all of us in due
time. I believe that He created all the universe. I admire His great work and adore how He made all of His creation. I
believe that He is there in the Heavens, here in earth, even in our minds and our hearts. He is there to guide us,
protect us, provide us, providing that we believe in Him.