The argument of the existence of evil states that if God exists then he knows how to‚ wants to‚ and is able to prevent all suffering. If such a God existed‚ though‚ then we would expect him to prevent all suffering. Suffering‚ though‚ is a familiar part of the world around us; it has not been prevented. There is‚ therefore‚ the argument concludes‚ no such God. The question of omnipotence is posed as a paradox‚ which asks‚ “can God create a stone so heavy that he cannot lift it?” If he can create
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Sunday 14th October 2012 “Religion has responded successfully to the challenge of atheism “15 marks. Religion has responded successfully and unsuccessfully to the challenge of atheism as there have a number of ideas that have developed over the years that could potentially overthrow many religious believers. Two of these reasons are due to science and empirism. Religions response to science has been widely assessed however both religion and science have agreed that nothing from the challenge
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One burning and enduring problem in philosophy to which we have given considerable examination is the question of the existence of God--the superlative being that philosophers have defined and dealt with for centuries. After reading the classic arguments of St. Anselm and St. Thomas Aquinas‚ the contentious assertions of Ernest Nagel‚ and the compelling eyewitness accounts of Julian of Norwich‚ I have been introduced to some of the most revered and referenced arguments for and against God’s existence
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people who are strong and faithful Christians‚ and try harder when they are praying. However‚ if they still don’t feel the presence of God when praying‚ they may begin to question the actual existence of God. This can sometimes lead to agnosticism or atheism. Another reason that may lead people to believe that there is no God; are unanswered prayers. Christians believe that God answers their prayers‚ and loves and cares for everyone. In church‚ they may be given examples of answered prayers. For
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In his article “On Being an Atheist‚” H. J. McCloskey makes an entertaining‚ but in the end inadequate‚ explanation as to why the arguments for God’s existence fail (limiting himself to the only two he cared to deal with)‚ and why Atheism provides more comfort to the hurting person than Theism. Unfortunately his article is riddled with straw men and fails to address the question of God’s existence at the level that the Theist presents it. Twice in the article he makes reference to the theist’s
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In 1968‚ a article was published by a man named H.J. McCloskey called “On Being an Atheist”‚ in which an attempt to present arguments against the existence of God is made. In his work‚ McCloskey attempts to provide readers with the argument that atheism is more “reasonable and comfortable (McCloskey‚1968)” compared to the alternative theistic view. In his article‚ McCloskey attempts to make arguments against the three typical theistic proofs of God which includes the cosmological and teleological
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Competing worldviews are breaking out everywhere especially throughout North America. Two sides with vastly differing and incompatible worldviews are being locked in a bitter conflict that permeates every level of society. On one side of the battle is the Christian worldview‚ and on the other is the Humanist worldview divided into three branches: Secular Humanism‚ Marxism/Leninism‚ and Cosmic Humanism. It’s in this essay that we will seek to understand all of the three Humanist worldviews while presenting
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GROUP ASSIGNMENT THE GOD DELUSION DEBATE Question 1: I chose to listen to Dr. John Lennox because I personally believe that there is a God that exists in our midst‚ and it would be great to have an open mind to see the perspective in the other point of view which does not believe the presence of God. In the debate between Prof Richard Dawkins and Dr John Lennox‚ the strength that Dr John Lennox has is that he stands by firmly in his belief that he greatly challenged the remarks made
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Atheist‚ H.J. McCloskey attempts to refute the arguments of God’s existence and explain how “atheism is a much more comfortable belief than theism.” (McCloskey 1968) He first attempts to discredit the Cosmological and Teleological arguments for God’s existence‚ then he turns to the existence of evil as “proof” that God does not exist‚ and finally closes his article back where he began- claiming that atheism is a more comforting belief than theism. Here I intend to explain how McCloskey is incorrect
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arguments from the theist and atheist side trying to prove whether God exists or not. In philosopher Ernest Nagel’s “A Defense of Atheism” he proves to dispel the classical arguments for the existence of God as well as give an atheistic view on why there could not be a God. Instead of just dispelling the theistic arguments Nagel brings forth an argument in defense of Atheism regarding the existence of evil and stands to prove that if evil exists then the theistic version of God cannot exist either. In
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