Theologies - Clover

3. Arguments for the Existence of God :
a. Cosmological argument
Thesis :
Every new thing or change must have a cause. For every
"effect", there must be a "cause." Creation is the effect that the
uncaused, First Cause (God) produced.
b. Teleological argument
Thesis :
Design within creation points to intelligent cause; a watch
presupposes a watchmaker. The design, order and purpose in
the universe suggests Someone (Intelligence) behind it.
c. Anthropological argument
Thesis :
Man has an innate, universal consciousness of a moral law
(some things are right; some things are wrong); yet a universal
moral law demands a Moral Lawgiver who must be
absolutely good.
d. Ontological argument
Thesis :
Man has the idea or concept of a perfect, Necessary Being;
if man can envision this Being, then He must exist; otherwise,
if He did not exist, He would not be perfect because He
lacked existence.
N.B. "Observe that these four arguments do not prove with
mathematical certainty the existence of God… While these
arguments do not compel belief, they do give a rational
explanation of our belief in God's existence (1 Pet. 3:15;
cp. Acts 14:15-17; 17:23-28)" (Barackman, PCT, 41).
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