Published January, 2023 [LAST UPDATED: 2024]
Cosmological
“Cosmos” = universe
Arguments from effect to a cause, denial of infinite regress
First cause
Arguments that try to show that from the fact that the universe exists, God exists
A posteriori argument (premises based on empirical observation / experience)
Teleological
“Teleos” = function
Arguments from analogy
Intelligent design
Arguments that try to make likely God’s existence from the purposeful design observed in the universe
A posteriori argument (premises based on empirical observation / experience)
Ontological
“Ontos” = meaning
Arguments from definition
'God' = Perfect & necessary
Arguments that try to demonstrate God’s existence by logical analysis of the concept of God
A priori argument (premises based on reason alone)
Religious Experience
Inference to the Best Explanation
Assumes that if something is the best explanation for some phenomena, then it must exist.
Arguments that the best explanation for phenomena like miracles is that there is a God.
Reformed Epistemology
Focus on whether or not belief in God is rational, despite NOT having evidence for it.
Some argue religious belief (under specific circumstances) is a type of self-justifying belief; while others argue via analogy that the significant marker of faith is not looking for / at evidence even when it is available.
Pragmatism
Arguments based on the outcome of a cost-benefit analysis; specifically, that belief is advantageous.
Similarly provides an argument for the rationality of religious belief without evidence.
Typically provided in response to critique of belief without sufficient reason which seems to apply to most other [high stakes] beliefs.
The Problem of Evil
Arguments purporting to show that since there is evil; an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good God must not exist.
Namely, because an:
omnipotent being could
omniscient being would know when to
omnibenevolent being would want to
... prevent unnecessary evil
Two types: Logical (Deductive) & Evidential (Inductive)
V. 1 Logical Impossibility
Makes God’s existence contradictory to the existence of unnecessary evil.
Namely, it is not possible for both evil to exist as well as a being that has the attributes of omnipotent, omnibenevolence, & omniscience.
Since we know evil exists (whether moral or not) at least in terms of suffering, then the only other logical conclusion is that such a being could not also exist.
V. 2 Evidentially Improbable
Makes God’s existence unlikely given the amount of unnecessary evil in the world.
Namely, that whatever account one might give for why an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good God would allow evil; there seems to be an excessive amount than what would be necessary to achieve such aims.
The intuition here is that this is not the best possible world God could have created, and so probably does not exist.
