Dr Andrew Corbett has written a book containing 5 proofs for the
existence of god. He gives a summary of those proofs at this website:
(My comments in red)
(1) Everything has a cause...In the first sentence Dr Corbett sets up a strawman argument by implying that scientists claim the Universe had no cause. In fact scientists have traced the history of the Universe back to the tiniest fraction of a second after "The Big Bang" (as it is popularly known) but they have not gone beyond that point. They freely admit that they don't know what happened before that point. Was the Universe caused or uncaused? Scientists just don't know.
It is illogical to suggest that something had no cause. This is where the theory of evolution becomes inadequate. It can not explain how anything began, let alone life. When we consider the evidence (that there are things which exist) it logically demands that either something or someone caused it. We can then rule out "something" as the solution since we would be returning to the original problem (what made the something?). This demands that there must be someone who has always existed (eternal) and is in themselves therefore uncreated. We don't have to understand this in order for it to be so.
In the next two sentences he says that evolution is inadequate because it cannot explain how life began, but evolution has nothing to do with beginnings. The theory of evolution merely explains how life has evolved. The origin of life is a completely different study known as abiogenesis.
Dr Corbett then goes on to say that something or someone caused the Universe to exist and it couldn't have been "something" so it must have been "someone" who is eternal and uncaused. He says this in the hope that his readers will identify the "someone" as the Christian God of the bible - but there is not a skerrick of proof to suggest that he may be right. Even if there was an eternal, uncaused being that caused the Universe; that's as far as Dr Corbett's argument can take him. It need not have been the Christian God of the bible; it could have been the Invisible Pink Unicorn, or the Tooth Fairy, or the Boogyman.
(2) There is evidence for design...Yes, the earth is just the right distance from the sun with just the right mixture of chemicals to sustain life - if it wasn't, we wouldn't be here to talk about it. To express wonder that Earth is "just right" for life is a bit like being amazed that no matter how short or tall a person may be, their legs are always just the right length to reach the ground.
The universe displays an amazingly complex level of interdependency which logically leads to the conclusion that it was designed that way. There are just too many coincidences of such "just rightness" for it too be a random haphazard coincidence. The earth is "just the right" distance from the Sun; it contains "just the right" mixture of chemicals and gases to sustain life; humans have "just the right" ability to breath these gases; the human body has "just the right" synergy of internal organs in order to function, and so on.
It is worth noting also, that scientists do not say that events on Earth are nothing more than "a random haphazard coincidence". Dr Corbett specifically mentions gases and chemicals so let's try a simple experiment: drop a piece of copper into sulphuric acid see what happens. Do we get Oxygen and Chlorine? Do we get silver and lead? Does nothing happen? No, we always get hydrogen gas and copper sulphate. There is no other possible result. It's hydrogen and copper sulphate every time - no variation at all, ever! Random haphazardness plays no part in any chemical reaction.
Random and haphazard events do occur of course - a car may crash into a laboratory and chemicals get flung all over the place in a random and haphazard fashion. The laboratory is in utter chaos, but remember this: Whenever a bottle of sulphuric acid spills into a box of copper filings, you are still going to get a predictable result - hydrogen gas and copper sulphate.
(3) There is intrinsic morality which needs a point of reference...Back in the days of Moses an old man picked up sticks on the Sabbath and god ordered that he should be stoned to death - and he was stoned to death. (Numbers 15:32-36) More recently Jesus said that unbelievers should have a millstone tied around their neck and they should be thrown into the ocean and drowned. (Matthew 18:6) Most modern Christians will agree they are immoral laws. The morality of both God and the Son of God are found wanting in these situations and modern Christians will never obey such ridiculous laws. Clear proof that our morality does not come from God.
How do we know what "evil" is? How do we know what "good" is? These concepts demand either the existence of a standard to make such evaluations, or an understanding what these concepts mean. Each of us are born with an innate sense of morality. We each fundamentally know what is right and wrong. It is incredible to consider that no matter time, culture, geographic location, or people, the Moral Law has been universally acknowledged.
This tends to confirm that all of creation bears the finger-prints of a Creator who is fundamentally good and right. That is, we each share a knowledge of what is right and wrong not just because we are taught or conditioned to accept these values, but because we are born with them.
(4) The Resurrection of Jesus Christ...
Skeptics may dispute this historical claim that Jesus Christ rose again from the dead but they do so perilously. This is because there is enough evidence to validate it and it is the point at which all of the history of Christ and Christianity rests. This means that if anything of Christ and Christianity is true then the Physical Resurrection of Christ is also true. The opposite is also true. If Christ did not literally rise from the dead then none of his history or teachings have any credence.
But if the resurrection of Christ can be seen as a reasonable historic fact (based on over 500 eye-witnesses, the preparedness of all of those witnesses to defend their testimonies even at the point of losing their lives, the resultant baptism in the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues- still available today) then this is perhaps the most overwhelming piece of proof for the existence of God.
Here Dr Corbett is referring to 1 Corinthians:5-8 where Paul says Jesus, "...appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also."
So we don't actually have over 500 eye-witnesses, we have just one person (Paul) who says there were over 500 eye-witnesses. If he had got a few hundred of them to sign their names at the end of the letter to the Corinthians we might have reason to believe him, but since he didn't do that we can assume that maybe he was just telling fibs.
So we don't actually have over 500 eye-witnesses, we have just one person (Paul) who says there were over 500 eye-witnesses. If he had got a few hundred of them to sign their names at the end of the letter to the Corinthians we might have reason to believe him, but since he didn't do that we can assume that maybe he was just telling fibs.
(5) The claims of Christ can be experienced...
Jesus Christ made some seemingly outrageous claims about the benefits of following Him. He offered "rest" for the weary, "nourishment" for the hungry, "water" for the thirsty, "resurrection" for the dead, "direction" for aimless, "liberty" for the oppressed, "protection" for the vulnerable, "healing" for the hurting, and "salvation" for the lost.
I was 15 years of age when I accepted Christ. Never have I ever regretted it. It has been a journey for me that has seen me grow and change. I have felt the Lord guiding me. I can honestly say that I have heard Him speak to me (even though it hasn't been audibly). He has answered my prayers so often that I now almost take it for granted that my prayers will be answered. He has given my life direction and purpose that I otherwise would never have had.
"I have a feeling" is not proof.
