Reasons for the Existence of God: (1) Classical: (A) Everything that moves is moved by something else; the ultimate cause is God. (B) Argument from design; (2) Inference to the best explanation; (3) Empirical fit; (4) Morality; (5) Beauty; (6) Sense of wonder; (7) Story
How useful are these "proofs"? (1) They don't prove God's existence; (2) They demonstrate the internal consistency and rationality of the Christian faith.
Quote (C S Lewis): "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen. Not just because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."
Quote (Iris Murdoch, a non-believer): "If there is not good beyond us, then we are doomed to relativism and confusion."
Quote (John Calvin): God knows our weaknesses and adapts to them."
Quote (Alister McGrath): "Sometimes we have to point rather than prove."
Quote (Alister McGrath): "Judge the reality of God by what God has done." -- What is the best way of making sense of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
The presence of suffering is an existential, not merely an academic, problem. The Gospel explains suffering and helps us to cope with it. Would suffering disappear if no one believed in God? If not, how then is suffering explained?
See C S Lewis' sermon, "The Weight of Glory."
Quote (Alister McGrath): "Our responsibility is not to prove, but to bear witness."
What is the greatest proof of God's existence? Look at history. The 20th century saw an intense effort to eradicate God and faith; yet.... ( )