Thomas Aquinas: The Existence Of God

First Thomas Aquinas argues that our existence in itself is proof that God exists, as we would not be “in motion” had God not been the “first mover” and put us in motion. If I correctly understand Aquinas he is saying that life would not exist had there not first been a creator, and with out first a creator life would not have come to be. Secondly Aquinas argues that life is a series of events that could not have brought itself in to being. Theretofore God must exist to begin the series, he is the cause for life. Thirdly he writes that “For each contingent being, there is a time it does not exist”. I am understanding him to say, each being is dependent for existence on something else and did not exist originally exist. He continues with “Therefore
some being exists of its own necessity, and does not receive its existence from another being, but rather causes them. This all men speak of as God”; meaning that God always existed and did not need anything to bring about his existence, making him responsible for our existence. His fourth argument is that the “maximum in any genus is the cause of all in that genus”, or the first being in the genetic line is the cause of all other beings in the genetic line. There had to be a first for all others to exist. Lastly he indicates that an inelegant being guides all natural bodies toward a goal, and without an inelegant being directing us we would not reach our goal. This intelligent being is named God. Richard Dawkins writes that Aquinas' evidence is “an infinite regress” (a series of statements in which a logical procedure is continually reapplied to its own result without approaching a useful conclusion). He names Aquinas evidence as vacuous, writing that Aquinas did not prove anything and his evidence is empty and without content. He describes the first three “proofs” as three ways to say the same thing and therefore should be considered as one. He argues that if God is omniscient ( having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; perceiving all things) then has fore-site of what is to come and were and when he wants to intervene to achieve a given outcome, but in turn this would mean that he could not change his mind about any per-existing decision making it impossible for him to be omnipotent. He indicates it would be more frugal to conjure up an alternate concept and to call it God is “unhelpful and misleading”. Dawkins compares Aquinas' fourth proof to a smelliness, and God to a “pre-eminently peerless stinker”. Lastly he argues that Charles Darwin annihilated this proof, thanks to evolution by natural selection. I am suppose to argue my point of view and argue Gods existence or non existence, but all I can do is give are my personal views.
I personally have never seen proof of Gods existence or non existence. I have sat pondering the question does he exist or not, while watching a beautiful sunrise. Attended bible school as a child and Sunday services as an adult. I've heard many arguments for both sides, but these do not constitute as proof. I have read a large portion of the bible but I know that it was actually written by the hand of man, and man as we know are famous for making mistakes. One of my favorite movies is the Ten Commandments. Even though all of this can cause doubt, I find myself on a fairly regular basis praying for friends, strangers I've never meet and occasionally myself. The question remains does God exist or did we just happen by accident on this large ball of gas that developed into what we like to call home. Well it is my personal opinion that both are right. I believe that a higher power must be at work to have created such a vast universe which our planet is just a speck in. I agree with science that evolution holds the answers to how life evolved on earth. Does God intervene in our lives? Does he answer prayers? Do miscalls relay happen? I don't know the answers to these questions, but I believe a lot of people need faith to help them face many trials and obstacles they are face with in life. If I am wrong and God does not exist and it turns out faith is just a coping mechanism, I can think of a lot worse ways to deal with life's
problems.