existence of god - does god really exist?

Discussion questions:

1. Does a present day person need something supernatural such as ‘God’ or some sort of ‘force’ to intervene or assist

him in his personal life?

[Context: Medical advancements, Cloning, Improved quality of life, Self-reliance, Increased control over ‘things’, DNA coding, etc.]

Science tells us what

and how

Religion tells us who

and why

Discussion questions (contd.)

2. What are the popular world views concerning the existence of God?

• Agnosticism(I don’t know if there is a God)

• Atheism(I know there is no God)

• Deism(God is there, but doesn’t care)

• Pantheism(‘That tree is God’)

• Panentheism(‘God is in that tree’)

• Theism(‘God is there and He is not silent’)

HOW WOULD A PET DOG AND A STREET DOG ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?

HOW WOULD AN ATHEIST ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?

Who am I (and what am I worth)?

Where did I come from ?Why am I here?

Where am I going when I die?

HOW WOULD A GOD-BELIEVER ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?

Who am I (and what am I worth)?

Where did I come from ?Why am I here?

Where am I going when I die?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (CONTD.)

3. WHY IS AN ATHEIST AN ATHEIST?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (CONTD.)

3. WHY IS AN ATHEIST AN ATHEIST?

‘WHY CAN’T HE SHOW UP?’

AGE OF SCIENCE AND HENCE ‘NEED A PROOF’

‘LOOK @ THE HUMAN SUFFERING’

‘WHY DID IT HAPPEN TO ME?’

‘LOOK AT NATURAL CATASTROPHES – CONTROL?’

‘I DON’T NEED A CRUTCH CALLED ‘GOD’

BUT WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

PSA.14:1THE FOOL HAS SAID IN HIS HEART, “THERE IS NO GOD.”     THEY ARE CORRUPT, THEY HAVE DONE ABOMINABLE

WORKS, THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD.

JN. 3:19-20 AND THIS IS THE CONDEMNATION, THAT THE LIGHT HAS COME INTO THE WORLD, AND MEN LOVED DARKNESS RATHER THAN

LIGHT, BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL. FOR EVERYONE PRACTICING EVIL HATES THE LIGHT AND DOES NOT COME TO THE

LIGHT, LEST HIS DEEDS SHOULD BE EXPOSED.

IS IT DOUBT OR DENIAL?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (CONTD.)

4. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF BEING AN ATHEIST?

◘ EVERYTHING IS MATTER◘ DEATH IS FINAL

◘ MORALS/ETHICS ARE MEANINGLESS

EVOLUTION:MATTER + TIME + CHANCE = LIFE

FAIRYTALE:FROG + TIME + KISS = PRINCE

Is it?

Law implies a __ ___

Rule implies a ____

Design implies a_____

Command implies a _______

Creation implies a ______

Law implies a Law-Giver

Rule implies a Ruler

Design implies a Designer

Command implies a Commander

Creation implies a Creator

ARGUMENTS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD:

ONTOLOGICAL – ARGUMENT FROM BEING‘IF GOD EXISTS IN THE UNDERSTANDING, THEN HE

MUST EXIST IN REALITY’

ARGUMENTS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD:

ONTOLOGICAL – ARGUMENT FROM BEING

COSMOLOGICAL – ARGUMENT FROM FIRST CAUSE‘NOTHINGS COMES FROM NOTHING’

ARGUMENTS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD:

ONTOLOGICAL – ARGUMENT FROM BEING

COSMOLOGICAL – ARGUMENT FROM FIRST CAUSE

TELEOLOGICAL – ARGUMENT FROM DESIGN‘EVERYTHING IS DESIGNED BY AN INTELLIGENT MIND FOR A

SPECIFIC PURPOSE IN LIFE.

ARGUMENTS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD:

ONTOLOGICAL – ARGUMENT FROM BEING

COSMOLOGICAL – ARGUMENT FROM FIRST CAUSE

TELEOLOGICAL – ARGUMENT FROM DESIGN

ANTHROPOLOGICAL – ARGUMENT FROM MAN‘MORAL CONSTANTS UNDERLYING HUMAN

CIVILIZATION’

GOD’S REVELATION (4CS)GENERAL REVELATION

- CREATION (ROM.1:20; PSA.19:1)

- CSPECIAL REVELATION

- C- C

PSALM 19:1-2 (PARAPHRASE)

The heavens are singingAbout how great God is;

And the skies are shouting it out,

“See what God has made!”

Day after day … Night after night …

They are speaking to us.

GOD’S REVELATION (4CS)GENERAL REVELATION

- CREATION (ROM.1:20; PSA.19:1)

- CONSCIENCE(ROM.1:19, 2:15; ACTS 17:23)

SPECIAL REVELATION

- C- C

GOD’S REVELATION (4CS)GENERAL REVELATION

- CREATION (ROM.1:20; PSA.19:1)

- CONSCIENCE(ROM.1:19, 2:15)

SPECIAL REVELATION

- COMMUNICATION (HEB.1:1)

- C

GOD’S REVELATION (4CS)GENERAL REVELATION

- CREATION (ROM.1:20; PSA.19:1)

- CONSCIENCE(ROM.1:19, 2:15)

SPECIAL REVELATION

- COMMUNICATION (HEB.1:1)

- CHRIST (HEB.1:2; )

LET US MEMORIZE ROMANS 1:19,20

ANDHEBREWS 1:1,2

NO MONKEY BUSINESS!GOD IS MY CREATOR

FOR A PERSON WHO BELIEVES IN GOD, NO PROOF IS NECESSARY;

FOR A PERSON WHO IS DETERMINED NOT TO

BELIEVE IN GOD, NO PROOF IS SUFFICIENT.

WHAT TO DO WHEN THERE ARE MANY GODS?

1. PICK A GOD WHO IS OUTSIDE HUMANITY

2. PICK A GOD YOU CAN KNOW PERSONALLY

3. PICK A GOD WHO LOVES YOU UNCONDITIONALLY

4. PICK A GOD WHO IS ALL POWERFUL

5. PICK A GOD WHO KNOWS HUMAN EXPERIENCE

6. PICK A GOD WHO GIVES MEANING TO LIFE