Craigs Philosophy and the Existence of God - Assignment Example

3 Activity Assignment Activity Is there a God? I think the best argument I obtained from this week’s assigned reading came from William Lane Graig, who argues that God exists. He asserts that one’s belief that God exist has massive implications in his views on morality, humanity, destiny, and life. Craig puts forth three reasons why the existence of God creates a difference. First, if one believes that God never exist, then the life of that person is ultimately meaningless (Craig 2014). Therefore, if atheism is factual, then life is surely meaningless when one ponders about contributions of scientists, research performed by doctors to alleviate suffering and pain not forgetting the sacrifices made by people everywhere to make human life better. Secondly, Craig believes that if truly God is inexistent, then people have to lead a hopeless life since there is no hope of liberation from the failures of our predetermined existence (Chaffee, 2013). A good example of such a scenario is a lack of hope of redemption from evil befalling us on earth. Moreover, in case God never exists, then people should lose hope on being redeemed from diseases, aging, and even death. Atheism, therefore, constitutes a philosophy lacking hope. Finally, Craig asserts that if truly God exists, then a person comes to understand God personally in addition to His love. Such a belief makes a life changing difference in the believer. In the reasons above, Craig admits that they do not ascertain the existence of God but shows a huge difference whether God is in existence. Therefore, he advances various reasons to prove that God exists. First, Craig asserts that the existence of God creates a sense of the foundation of the universe. The question about the origin of the universe has been controversial (Chaffee, 2013). According to atheist, universe is eternal. Thus, the reasoning of the atheist is unreasonable since if truly the universe lacked a beginning, therefore, past events within the history of the universe are infinite. The infinite is not a reality since it never exists in nature and offers a legitimate reason for rational thought. However, past events are never ideas but are real, and this confirms that the past events are finite. Therefore, the cycles of past events cannot go back forever and therefore the universe at one time began to exist. The discoveries in the fields of astrophysics, science, and astronomy prove that the universe began to exist approximately 13 billion years ago through the Big Bang theory (Chaffee, 2013). The theory makes atheist believe that the universe originated from nothing. This is nonsensical since if the universe came from nothing, then why does it exist, where did it originated? Thus, since the universe exists, it had a beginning and cause. The cause, therefore, was God and this proves His existence .Secondly, the existence of intelligent life on earth proves that God exists and that He established a complex, as well as the delicate balance of the initial conditions within the Big Bang theory (Chaffee, 2013). How comes conditions supporting life just existed on earth alone and not other planets? This question proves of God’s existence and preference of the earth over planets thus His involvement in fine-tuning the conditions giving rise to the emergence of living things on earth. Craig’s argument also had some strength First, scientists and atheists believe in the existence of a force that initiated the Big Bang theory. Therefore, they approve of the existence of power and that according to Craig is God. This clearly proves that God existed in the beginning of the creation of the universe in form of a force. Secondly, the belief by atheists that the universe operates in order and that nothing goes amiss clearly proves of the existence of a force that controls everything and ensures that things operate in order. Consequently, this also proves the existence of God that fine turns the processes in the entire universe. Weakness of the argument Despite believe in the existence of a force that initiated the Big Bang theory, how sure are we that the force was single. Such a force could be a combination of forces thus; the belief in the existence of just one God is unsatisfactory. This to some extent proves that maybe there were gods who combined forces to work. How does this argument affect how you live and why? Craig’s philosophy affects my reasoning and truly, it has changed my perception towards the existence of God and atheists’ faith. Currently, I lead life recognizing that God exists since the reasons provided by Craig clearly proves the existence of a force that established the universe and which puts things in order. How does Levinas challenge traditional conceptions of God? Is his understanding useful and why? Levinas challenges traditional conception of God by not trying to prove the existence through evidence and knowledge. He wants individuals to encounter their experience in a personal way, and thus derives some ethical principles thus proving the significance of his understand ding. Activity 2. How do we understand suffering and evil in the world? I think suffering, and evil are realities in the world. In most societies, people attribute suffering to evil (Greenhut et al, 1989). Personal evil leads to social evil. However, I do believe in inherent evil passed through generations. Thus, if a person experiences suffering, he or she is believed to be paying for the evil activities done or evils of the parent or ancestor. Therefore, to avoid suffering, most famous religions on earth teach their faithful to avoid participating in evil activities that make them become sinners. Therefore, sinners account for their actions through suffering for their bad way of life. For most religions, individuals suffering should pray to the divinity to forgive them for their sins and render them free from the suffering. Activity 3. What happens after we die? I am a Christian who believes in the existence of God and that Jesus was His son whom He sent to bring salvation to the human race. According to the teachings of the three prominent world religions, Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, life after death is real (Jones, 2012). Christianity claims that since Adam and Eve were the first ancestors of human, their sins and the subsequent God’s wrath and punishment of death is passed to every of their descendant (Hume,1776). Therefore, everyone will have to die, and his or her soul kept in paradise. Therefore, individuals who led an evil life while on earth would perish in Hell. Conversely, those who practiced and obeyed the Commandants of God will enter Heaven. I consider this notion factual since if individuals come into the earth through birth; therefore, there is probably a place similar to the earth where they proceed after death. The place could be the paradise believed to exist by the faithful of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. References Chaffee, J. (2013). The philosopher’s way: Thinking critically about profound ideas. (4th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson. Greenhut, R. (Producer) et al. (1989). Crimes and Misdemeanors trailer. Orion pictures. Podcast retrieved June 10, 2014 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wXqwL3akhw Craig, William Lane. “Does God Exist?” Reasonable Faith. Retrieved June 12, 2014 from http://www.reasonablefaith.org/does-god-exist-1 Hume, D. (1776). Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion. (South Australia: eBooks@Adelaide, 2009). Retrieved from: http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/h/hume/david/h92d/. Jones, K. (2012). Analytic versus Continental Philosophy. Retrieved from http://philosophynow.org/issues/74/Analytic_versus_Continental_Philosophy Read More