Traditional arguments for God’s existence:

Cosmological argument:

• Everything with a beginning requires a cause.
• The universe began to exist (supported by scientific evidence), necessitating a cause outside itself: an eternal, almighty God.

Evidence for the universe’s beginning:

• Second law of thermodynamics: the universe is depleting its usable energy, making an eternal universe impossible.
• Observed expansion of the universe (redshift in galaxies) indicates a starting point.
• Cosmic microwave background radiation, a remnant of the Big Bang, confirms a definite temporal beginning.
• Einstein’s theory of general relativity supports the universe originating from a singular, extremely hot, and dense point (singularity).

Critique of the atheistic perspective:

• The claim that "nothing" produced everything via the Big Bang defies logic, as nothingness cannot produce something.
• Aristotle: "Nothing is what rocks dream of," highlighting that nothingness lacks creative power.
• The cause must be eternal, uncreated, more powerful than the universe, and intelligent to design such a precise system, aligning with God’s biblical attributes (eternity, power, wisdom, independence from creation).
• C. Sproul: "If something exists, there must be a God because existence itself requires an uncaused first cause."

Teleological argument (Intelligent Design):

• The universe’s intricate and precise order provides evidence of intelligent design, not random chance.
• Key points: A design implies a designer with the capability and wisdom to create it.
• The universe’s detailed structure indicates meticulous design with purpose and intent.

Conclusion: an uncreated, wise, and omnipotent designer, God, exists

The Moral Argument

• The moral argument strongly supports the existence of God, rooted in the universal human sense of right and wrong.
• This innate moral sense transcends biological or social influences, pointing to an external, absolute moral law governing human behaviour and conscience.

Conscience as a Universal Guide:

• Every person possesses a conscience that distinguishes right from wrong, even without written laws or explicit teachings.
• This inner voice triggers guilt for immoral acts and satisfaction for good deeds, guiding moral decisions.
• External Moral Code: Conscience reflects a universal moral code that surpasses personal preferences or societal norms.
• The perception that killing, stealing, or injustice is wrong is shared across ages and civilizations, not merely a cultural construct.
• Implication of a Moral Legislator: An absolute moral code suggests the existence of a supreme moral legislator God since objective moral laws require an authoritative source beyond human constructs.

Hypothesis and Conclusion:

• Moral laws necessitate a rational, omnipotent moral legislator to create and enforce them, akin to how civil laws require a government.
• Objective moral laws, such as the universal value of justice, mercy, and honesty, and the condemnation of injustice, lying, and cruelty, are fixed and binding across cultures and time.
• The logical conclusion is that God, an eternal and almighty being, authors these laws and embeds this moral sense in human hearts.

Biblical Evidence:

• Romans 2:14-15 (NIV): "Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them."
• This passage highlights that God has inscribed a moral law in all human hearts, evidenced by conscience, even among those without the written law.
• Limits of Biological Evolution: Objective moral laws cannot solely result from evolution, which prioritizes survival of the fittest a principle that does not inherently produce absolute moral values.
• For instance, guilt over sacrificing others for personal gain suggests an external moral standard beyond biological instincts.
• Universal values like justice and compassion remain constant across diverse cultures, unlike varying cultural norms.

The Divine Consensus Argument

• This argument posits that humans are born with an innate sense of the divine, a "divine void" driving the search for deeper existential meaning.
• This inner longing for connection with something greater leads to spiritual and psychological fulfilment through religion, philosophy, or introspection.
• Philosophical Support: Augustine described humans’ inner desire to connect with God.
• Pascal identified this "divine emptiness" as a need only God can fulfil.
• Both philosophers recognized this universal tendency to seek God, independent of cultural or environmental influences.
• Supporting Statements: Augustine: "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you," suggesting true peace comes only through God.
• Psalm 14:1 (NIV): "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good."
• This implies denying God contradicts the innate sense of divinity, labelling such denial as foolish.
• Romans 1:20 (NIV): "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."
• This underscores that creation reveals an innate knowledge of God, which some reject, leading to spiritual darkness.

The Divine Void:

• The concept of divine emptiness explains humanity’s persistent quest for higher meaning through religion, art, relationships, or materialism.
• In secular societies, people pursue substitutes like fame or wealth, which fail to provide lasting fulfilment, reinforcing the need for a divine connection.
• This universal tendency across cultures and time suggests God designed humans to seek Him.

Futility of Living Without God:

• Atheist existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre described life without God as absurd, where humans create temporary, relative meanings that fail to satisfy.
• Belief in God provides ultimate meaning and intrinsic value, aligning with a divine purpose beyond material existence.
• Existential anxiety often arises when living without faith, supporting the notion that God is the true source of meaning.

Consequences of Denying God

• No Ultimate Meaning: Without God, life becomes a series of random events lacking purpose.
• No Intrinsic Value: Human actions lose inherent worth without a divine moral standard.
• No Purpose: Without a Creator, existence reduces to mere survival without deeper significance.
• Unliveable Absurdity: Denying God leads to a heavy, hopeless existence, driving some to despair or false meanings.
• Ecclesiastes 1:2 (NIV): “‘Meaningless! Meaningless!’ says the Teacher. ‘Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.’"
• This reflects the futility and emptiness of life without God, where all pursuits seem vain.