Evidence for the existence of God
• How can we answer when someone claims “there is little/no evidence for the existence of God“?
• Reasons below demonstrate why belief in God is both logical and consistent. Before we answer, is the person open to hearing the evidence? If not, we may not continue.
1. WHY DOES ANYTHING EXIST?
Why are we fixated questions of purpose? Why are we here? Where are we going?
If we’re simply “molecules in motion” as claimed by new atheists, this wouldn’t explain our constant search for answers. “Only explanation, we were made for another world” (CS Lewis).
CS Lewis also pointed out – All our other desires/needs are met in this life, food, sex, sleep, relationships, love etc. What we so often pine for really does exist.
2. ORIGIN OF THE UNIVERSE
Everything begins exist requires a cause – To deny would be to deny the foundation of science & would be inconsistent with all our known experience (nothing ever pops into existence uncaused), evolution cannot explain. Intelligent mind = A logical explanation
There is no other satisfactory explanation of the first cause! (Aka Cosmological Argument)
3. COMPLEX & FINELY TUNED UNIVERSE
Perfect initial conditions to create universe and sustain life. Remarkable/Miraculous set of conditions which enable existence of life (gravity, atmospheric gases, expansion rate of universe, our position in the cosmos, look up the cosmic vacuum cleaner!) See also Goldilocks Zone.
4. MORALITY
Everyone aware right and wrong, not only know this, but we expect others to follow our standard e.g. someone skips you in a queue. We always hold others to our standard (Moral Obligation). That there is an external standard is the best explanation.
Entire justice system based on idea of objective standard we all know and accept.
5. CHANGED LIVES
Millions changed lives of people who testify to power of Jesus. 11 of 12 apostles killed for belief, yet they went to their deaths willingly! Many apostles (especially Paul) were known historically to have made incredible transformations with no obvious personal gain.
6. RESURRECTION
Hard evidence accepted by most secular (non-Christian) historians. (1) Apostles claimed Jesus risen, (2) Claimed seen him and (3) Tomb found empty. All 3 are accepted by the vast majority of historians. No other credible explanation.
Best explanation was that the apostles and many others seen the risen Jesus.
7. EVIDENCE FOR MIRACULOUS JESUS
All know he existed – enemies confirm this and some that he was a doer of miracles (in bold). Evidence from Josephus, Jewish Talmud, Tacitus Suetonius, Mara Serapion, Pliny the Younger, Thallus, Phlegon, Lucian of Samosata.
8. DNA
4 chemicals which contain code of instructions. Within tiny space every cell in body there is 3 billion letters. This evidence of clear design converted leading atheist of his day, Antony Flew saying “intelligence must have been involved”.
How can a random an accidental explosion billions of year ago, which resulted in the creation of non-directed molecules in motion, result in a complicated ordering of over 3 billion letters in combination with one another coding for each respective body part?
9. PROPHECY
Thousands fulfilled – Specific details, dates, unbiased sources confirm the fulfilled details.
Isaiah prophecy written hundreds years before Christ came, details clearly and explicitly describe Jesus’ life, fulfilled as described and confirmed by hostile sources to Christianity.
All these prophecies were further supported by discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
10. BIBLE BEST ATTESTED ANCIENT BOOK
The time between the events and writings – smaller than any other (written between AD40-AD95). More manuscripts than any other document (greater than 29,000). Second to none in accuracy of transmission (99.5%). All manuscripts agree on all major themes – Remarkable level of consistency!!!
That Bible Guy 