Kevin Vandergriff

Prior Probability in Terms of Simplicity

Christian TheismSpecified Naturalism (Hypothesis of Indifference)

1 - A maximally powerful

2 - Intelligent

3 - And Good

4 - Supernatural Person

5 - Created the universe

6 - For the purpose revealed by Jesus of Nazareth

1 - The universe may or may not be factually necessary.2 - No maximally evil supernatural person or persons exist.3 - No maximally good supernatural person or persons exist.4 - The universe doesn’t exist for a purpose. 5 - The condition of conscious beings on Earth (animals) is not the result of maximally good or maximally evil persons. 6 - The condition of self-conscious beings (humans) is not the result of maximally good or maximally evil persons.

Generic Naturalism

Definition: The physical world explains why anything mental exists.

This definition doesn’t have enough content

Mr. Lowder needs the Hypothesis of Indifference!

Christian theism is roughly equal in simplicity with Specified Naturalism

God Exists Necessarily

Two Facts Imply This:1-The Origin of the Universe2-The Existence of the Something Rather than Nothing

The Origin of the Universe Borde-Guth-Vilenkin theorem shows

that all matter, space, and time had an absolute beginning

Shuttlecock

Universe has to have an efficient cause Metaphysical time can precede

physical time without contradiction Effects can be simultaneous with their

causes

Why Is There Something Rather Than Nothing?

Key Premise: Everything that exists, has an explanation of it’s existence, either in the necessity of it’s own nature, or in an external cause

c

Even if the universe is eternal, it requires an external cause

Does Physical Matter Support Naturalism?

No; God’s Goodness entails the existence of a value-generating universe

Does a Hostile Universe Support Naturalism? No; The rest of the universe is

physically necessary for Earth, and life on Earth to exist

Too many interventions implies a less than Perfect God

Does Evolution Support Naturalism? No; Evolution happened too quickly to be unguided

Life on Earth, appears as early as physically possible

Evolution may have been God’s only option

Does Pain and Pleasure Support Naturalism?

No; Evolution is Metaphysically Necessary Laws of Nature are Metaphysically

Necessary

Does Languishing and Flourishing Support Naturalism? No; Evolution is Metaphysically

Necessary Laws of Nature are Metaphysically

Necessary

Does Pain and Pleasure Support Naturalism? Desire satisfaction alone doesn’t

explain objective flourishing (Darwin’s Thought Experiment)

Theism Explains why Pain and Pleasure PREDOMINANTLY Contribute to Human Flourishing and Survival and Reproduction!

Does Languishing and Flourishing Support Naturalism? Animals aren’t self-aware

Animals that aren’t persons, don’t have a right to life

Does Triumph and Tragedy Support Naturalism?

No; Look around! Tragedies aren’t the rule in our world

Life is worthwhile Evolution would be blind to all of God’s morally

sufficient reasons for allowing evil in the world Humans didn’t have to be resilient in the face

of tragedies on naturalism We are hard-wired to find meaning, purpose

and comfort in the face of tragedies Divine Comfort should be case by case

Does Mind-Brain Dependence Support Naturalism? No; it is logically impossible to create

another being with a soul that can perform actions

How do you get consciousness from non-conscious matter on naturalism?

Moral responsibility doesn’t require libertarian free will

Does Ethical Disagreement Support Naturalism?No; God’s reasons would be the same as oursMorality is Independent of GodSome moral issues are inherently indeterminateWe have room to grow

Does Divine Hiddenness Support Naturalism? No; The Absence of Evidence isn’t

necessarily evidence of absence. Is there non-resistant non-belief? Do you need to have awareness of

the other person(s) required for meaningful relationship?

Mr. Lowder’s Case for Naturalism5 Independent Arguments

3 Dependent Arguments

EvolutionEvolution Hostile Universe Mind-Brain

Dependence Tragedy and Triumph Ethical Disagreement

Divine Hiddenness Pain and Pleasure Not

Always Morally Necessary

Languishing and Flourishing

*One Unconfirmed Prediction: An eternal and uncaused universe exists.

Alleged Understated Evidence

So much of our universe is intelligible without any appeal to supernatural agency.

So much of the universe is hostile to life Embodied moral agents are the result of

evolution The only known moral agents are embodied Our universe is not teeming with embodied

moral agents, including agents much more impressive than humans

Variety and frequency of conditions that severely limit our freedom

Moral responsibility requires libertarian free will

Kevin’s Case for Christian TheismGod is the Best Explanation of:

1-The Origin of the Universe1-The Origin of the Universe

2-Why Something Rather than Nothing Exists2-Why Something Rather than Nothing Exists

3-The Formational Economy of the Universe3-The Formational Economy of the Universe

4-The Connection Between Moral Beliefs and 4-The Connection Between Moral Beliefs and Necessary Moral TruthsNecessary Moral Truths

5-The Connection Between Necessary Moral 5-The Connection Between Necessary Moral Truths and FlourishingTruths and Flourishing

6-The Existence of Self-Awareness6-The Existence of Self-Awareness

7-The Worthwhileness of Life7-The Worthwhileness of Life