The Existence of God

A thought: An argument against the existence of God—all evidence and reason included—amounts to no less than the moral question, “Can God and evil coexist?” 

You will hopefully see that this is not a case against God’s existence—an existence that is logically irrefutable even without the Bible—but rather a question of whether you can love (and worship) a God that allows evil to not only exist, but to seemingly inflict upon humanity so senselessly and dramatically. 

By the way, I did say His existence is irrefutable. 

To demonstrate how, let us look to reason and logic—namely philosophy—since Mankind possesses intellect to deduce and reason. To be clear, philosophy (the “love of Wisdom”) relies on logic and reason; theology (the study of God) relies on divine revelation. One can arrive at God purely along reasonable means, but, without theology, the same cannot arrive unassisted at the truths of God 'essentia,' or essence. Thomas Aquinas said, “Philosophy is the handmaiden of theology,” which means the power of reason and the truths known by reason enable and assist in the study of theology. 

Ok, let’s suppose that we have managed to possess 10% of all knowledge that is intelligible about the universe—meaning that of all there is to know about the universe, we are certain of only a tenth. If you want, we can stretch this scenario liberally to grant that we know 99% of all knowledge claims, impossible though it may seem (the universe is a big place). Nonetheless, it stands to reason that there very well could be some fact about the universe, whether in the 90% or in the 1%—depending on which case you argue—that humankind has yet to discern as truth that could contradict what we claim to know. (Note: I will cede to the one who argues “we know 99%” that the probability of a fact remaining in the 1% which would contradict the other 99% drastically diminishes; but, to quote Jim Carrey’s character, Lloyd Christmas, from the movie ‘Dumb and Dumber’, “so you’re telling me there’s a chance.”) Put simply, if one does not know what he or she does not know, whether in the 90% or 1% to the scale of the universe, then how exactly can one be certain (and I mean absolutely certain) of anything at all? The answer is he cannot know; the only way he could know anything for certain is if he knew everything. Therefore logic follows that no one can know anything with absolute certainty at all.

 But we do posses scientific, empirical knowledge such that we detect through five senses subject to all the natural rules it detects, an inescapable and viciously circular argument without a First Cause to set the cycle into motion.  People all throughout the ages understand this First Cause as God. 

When I say “people through the ages,” I do not mean exclusively Christians. I refer to people of all creeds, nationalities, philosophies, and backgrounds. God is irrefutable because without Him, one could not refute; God ‘is’ existence, and from Him, all things came into being.

Does this mean God created evil as well? How could an all powerful, loving, peaceful Being allow for such horrendous evil to inhabit the world? Why does He not just stomp it out of existence? 

If you cannot answer these questions convincingly and you consider yourself Christian, I’d advise that you read the early Church writings from around the first century through the fifth—the church endured tremendous persecution during that period and much of the early documents dealt specifically on this subject (after all they needed to answer the question for themselves).  If you are not Christian, but you claim a monotheistic faith, I am curious how it is that you answer this question. I am regrettably ignorant on how this topic is approached by most other non-Christian faiths.  And if you altogether reject God’s existence on this ground (or perhaps another), I invite your feedback.

Oh, and please include two things in your answer: (1) an understanding of evidence that “Bad things happen” is not proof there is no God; it may be included in support against a claim that “God is good,” (for the record, I believe God is good) but it does not prove there being no God; and (2) if you feel that you have soundly disproven God’s existence, then with whom or with what do you replace Him, for there must be a “First Cause” (ref: my example above)?