The Influence Of Natural Theology On Evidence Of The Existence Of God

Francis Henry Egerton, Earl of Bridgewater commissioned The Bridgewater Treatises as his dying wish in 1820. He ordered that the president select writers to publish one thousand copies of writing “on the power, wisdom, and goodness of God as manifested in the Creation”. There were eight treaties written in total, all of which explore the relationship between science, the natural world and God. Natural Theology on Evidences of the Existence and Attribute of the Deity, written by William Paley in London in 1809, inspired Egerton's demand. Paley provides arguments that God exists based on conclusions made from observations of nature. Paley uses many arguments, such as the design of the eye and human anatomy, to prove that it was all created by
Paley explains that the eye was designed for vision, similar to the telescope, which was designed to aid in distant vision. Paley describes that the eye is superior to the telescope, which is consistent to the way in which the artist of the eye is superior to the artist of the telescope. By explaining the intricate features of the eye, Paley shows the vast complexity of the eye. According to Paley, the eyebrows function in preventing particles from running down the forehead into the eye, the lid to protect and wipe the eye, and the secretion to cleanse the eye. In describing all the complex structures of the eye, Paley comments on the excessive care and vast intelligence employed in its creation. Paley comments that the Deity must have been the one to give the animal the sense of
The most important of these consequences is when proving God through logical conclusions based on nature, it eliminates true belief in God. There is no room for doubt if we have natural proof, and therefore true faith in God is completely unnecessary. The definition of God that Paley provides is not faith, rather it is knowledge. Natural Theology opposes Revealed Theology, which provides theologians with an awareness of God based on the study of scripture and religious experience. A natural proof in God may seem very attractive, because it is easier to believe in God based on logical proof than to believe in God based on faith itself. Study of the scripture and belief based on blind faith is seemingly more arduous than simply accepting that God exists based on natural observances. Anne Bronte’s “The Doubter’s Prayer” displays the disparity between the two types of theologies. In this poem, the narrator is praying to God to help her believe in him. She says, “Then hear me now, while kneeling here, I lift to thee my heart and eye, And all my soul ascends in prayer, Oh give me faith! I cry”. The distinction between Bronte’s longing to believe in God and Paley’s logical proof of God is apparent. Natural theology to confirm God’s existence is simpler, however it lacks the faith and belief that is characteristic of