On Being an Atheist Essay Example
A Reflection on H.J. McCloskey’s
“On Being an Atheist”
Liberty University
Submitted By: Heather McElroy
Professor Mark Wesley Forman
Introduction
In 1968, H.J. McCloskey wrote an article on atheism called “On Being an Atheist.” He states that there are three proofs which do seem to move ordinary theists to their theism to constitute major motivations towards a belief in God, namely the cosmological proof, the teleological proof, and the argument from design (McCloskey). In his article he states that these proofs are inadequate, and that atheism is much more comfortable than theism. He also says that most theists don’t come to the belief in God through as a reflection on the proofs, but they come to a belief in God through others reasons and factors. Through our faith as theists we believe God exists and that the existence of God is the best explanation for the effects we observe in the universe. Philosophers say that an argument is a set of statements or propositions, which are premises, which show that another statement, the conclusion, is true. Throughout this paper I will mention the premises and conclusions of each argument and explain why McCloskey is incorrect when trying to prove his arguments.
The Cosmological Argument
The cosmological argument attempts to prove that God exists by showing that there cannot be an infinite number of regressions of causes to things that exist (Slick). It states that there must be a final uncaused-cause of all things. This uncaused-cause asserted to be God. According to Evans, the temporal form of the argument expresses that the universe had a beginning. The non-temporal cause expresses that the universe doesn’t have a beginning. McCloskey says “If we use the causal argument at all, all we are entitled to infer is the existence of a cause commensurate with the effect to be explained, the universe, and this does not entitle us to postulate an all-powerful, all-perfect, uncaused cause. The most it would entitle
“On Being an Atheist”
Liberty University
Submitted By: Heather McElroy
Professor Mark Wesley Forman
Introduction
In 1968, H.J. McCloskey wrote an article on atheism called “On Being an Atheist.” He states that there are three proofs which do seem to move ordinary theists to their theism to constitute major motivations towards a belief in God, namely the cosmological proof, the teleological proof, and the argument from design (McCloskey). In his article he states that these proofs are inadequate, and that atheism is much more comfortable than theism. He also says that most theists don’t come to the belief in God through as a reflection on the proofs, but they come to a belief in God through others reasons and factors. Through our faith as theists we believe God exists and that the existence of God is the best explanation for the effects we observe in the universe. Philosophers say that an argument is a set of statements or propositions, which are premises, which show that another statement, the conclusion, is true. Throughout this paper I will mention the premises and conclusions of each argument and explain why McCloskey is incorrect when trying to prove his arguments.
The Cosmological Argument
The cosmological argument attempts to prove that God exists by showing that there cannot be an infinite number of regressions of causes to things that exist (Slick). It states that there must be a final uncaused-cause of all things. This uncaused-cause asserted to be God. According to Evans, the temporal form of the argument expresses that the universe had a beginning. The non-temporal cause expresses that the universe doesn’t have a beginning. McCloskey says “If we use the causal argument at all, all we are entitled to infer is the existence of a cause commensurate with the effect to be explained, the universe, and this does not entitle us to postulate an all-powerful, all-perfect, uncaused cause. The most it would entitle