"THE CASE FOR CREATION" The Philosophical Case For Creation by Mark Copeland

 

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"THE CASE FOR CREATION"

The Philosophical Case For Creation

INTRODUCTION

1. In our introduction to "The Case For Creation", we raised several basic questions...
1. Where did life come from? How did it all begin?
2. Is matter eternal, with life evolving through purely natural processes?
3. Is matter not eternal, with life created by a supernatural force?
2. We began by reviewing "The Biblical Case For Creation"...
1. Which states that matter is not eternal, but created by a Supreme Being
2. E.g., "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" - Gen 1:1
3. Many, of course, are not content with simply accepting the Biblical claim...
1. Wanting more reasons to believe in God and creation
2. Leading some to consider philosophical reasons for their faith

["The Philosophical Case For Creation" presents several reasons to believe in God and creation as the explanation for the origin of life. Let's briefly review five, beginning with...]

1. THE UNIVERSAL SENSE OF OUGHT
1. EXPLANATION...
1. Everywhere people have a sense of "ought", a moral code of some sort
1. That in certain circumstances, certain things should be done - cf. Ro 2:14-15
2. Even among the most remote tribes cut off from civilization
2. Even atheists and agnostics have a sense of justice
1. Who are angered when it is violated
2. As in cases of rape and murder
-- Also called the moral or anthropological argument
2. IMPLICATION...
1. This moral nature in man suggests a Moral Being as the Original Cause of life - Ps 89:14
2. If there is no God, there is no right or wrong, good or evil
3. If there is no God, no atheist can object on moral grounds to murder or rape
-- Life from random chance does not explain the universal sense of ought

[A similar reason to believe in God and creation as the origin of life is...]

2. THE UNIVERSAL RELIGIOUS INSTINCT
1. EXPLANATION...
1. "Men in all the world, and throughout all time, not only believe in deity, but also engage in acts of worship and devotion." - Ferrell Jenkins, Introduction To Christian Evidences
2. "The religious principle is extremely potent in all nations, dominating their thought and history." - ibid.
3. "Everywhere the human heart has a craving for God. There will be exceptions as individuals, but the exceptions do not invalidate the rule. The atheist is an exception in every society!" - ibid.
-- Also called the general argument
2. IMPLICATION...
1. For every deep longing of man, there is something that satisfies it (e.g., hunger-food)
2. There must be a reality (i.e., God) that complements our universal religious craving
3. Solomon writes of God placing eternity in the hearts of man - Ecc 3:11
4. Paul says a longing for God was placed in man by God Himself - Ac 17:26-27
5. Only the fool and the wicked repress their religious instincts - Ps 14:1; 10:4; Ro 1:18,28
-- Life from random chance does not explain the universal religious instinct

[Another reason to believe in God and creation as the origin of life is...]

3. THE PRESENCE OF BEAUTY AND SUBLIMITY
1. EXPLANATION...
1. This argument is based upon the presence of beauty and sublimity in the universe
2. It observes that we have both...
1. The presence of beauty in nature itself, and in art produced by man
2. The response of man to such beauty (appreciation and awe)
-- Also called the aesthetic argument
2. IMPLICATION...
1. How did this "beauty" and the "ability to appreciate" develop?
2. Was it the result of blind chance, or did it come ?
3. Or did it come from a Supreme Being, who Himself is artistic, with an appreciation for beauty? - cf. Exo 28:2; Job 40:9-10; Ps 19:1-2; 96:4-6
-- Life from random chance does not explain the presence of beauty and sublimity

[Then there are two philosophical arguments that are strongly supported by science. The first being...]

4. EVERY EFFECT MUST HAVE A CAUSE
1. EXPLANATION...
1. One form of this argument has three simple steps:
1. Whatever begins to exist must have a cause
2. The universe began to exist
3. Therefore the universe has a cause
2. This argument is known as the Kalam Cosmological Argument
1. Formulated in its present form by al-Ghazali
2. A Muslim who lived from 1058 to 1111
-- This argument is generally known as the cosmological argument
2. IMPLICATION...
1. Many scientists today believe the First Cause is the "Big Bang"
1. Because of the evidence from astronomy
2. But the Big Bang is itself an effect
3. What caused the Big Bang?
2. The Bible reveals an adequate cause: "In the beginning God..." - Gen 1:1
1. A common objection: "Who caused God?"
1. This objection fails to carefully note the first premise of the argument
2. I.e., "whatever begins to exist must have a cause"
2. By definition God is eternal
1. He is an eternal being, possessing eternal power - Ps 90:2; cf. Ro 1:20
2. He is a spiritual being - Jn 4:24
3. His omnipresence illustrates how He defies laws of nature - Jer 23:23-24
3. So the argument does not apply to Him - He is the Uncaused Cause of all things!
-- God is the ultimate First Cause (not an effect that requires a cause)

[Finally, discoveries in molecular biology and other scientific fields strongly support...]

5. THE EVIDENCE OF INTELLIGENT DESIGN
1. EXPLANATION...
1. Whatever is designed must have a Designer
1. A watch shows design, and implies a watchmaker
2. To credit such intricate and precise workmanship to blind chance is unreasonable
2. Many things in the natural world show evidence of design
1. Orderly movement of heavenly bodies, making space travel possible
2. Animal instinct, such as the migration patterns of birds, eels, and salmon
3. Biological machines in simplest of cells
3. Therefore a designer exists
-- Also called the teleological argument
2. IMPLICATION...
1. Intelligent design suggests a Being with intelligence possessing purpose
2. To credit intricate and precise design to blind chance is unreasonable
3. Contemplating on the universe and the human body rightfully produces awe, and points man to his Creator - cf. Ps 19:1-2; 139:14; Ro 1:19-20
-- Life from random chance does not explain the evident intelligent design

CONCLUSION

1. What reasons are there to believe that life originates from an Almighty Creator...?
1. The universal sense of ought
2. The universal religious instinct
3. The presence of beauty and sublimity
4. The argument from first cause
5. The evidence of intelligent design
2. These are mostly philosophical arguments...
1. Especially the first three
2. But the last two depend heavily on scientific evidence

Most people today are probably persuaded by science rather than philosophy, so in our next study we will focus more on...

"The Scientific Case For Creation"

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2022