I think that the infinite regression argument is not in itself evident, in that it depends on a philosophical position that there must not be an ultimate reality. Deductive arguments the impossibility of god evidence. Darwins arguments against god how darwin rejected the doctrines of christianity first published. Dec 17, 2019 the real god is an abstract concept of something greater than ourselves free will is better explained as not being constrained the real and true god is the god that people experience every day the only kind of free will thats possible is us experiencing it god is real, and the evidence is in the lives of billions. Free will argument for the nonexistence of god fang edit the fang argument from dan barker says that since an omniscient god would know its own future, and therefore its own decisions, it does not have free will and thus cannot be a personal being. With a close and erudite reading of the major religious texts, he documents the ways in which religion is a manmade wish, a cause of dangerous sexual repression, and. Montaillou, during one of the great medieval persecutions, a woman was asked.
It doesnt matter if its weak i still have to mention it. Which is probably the best deistic argument note i said deistic not theistic, because the fine tuning of the universe points to a deistic god, not yahweh. God is not great sometimes stylized as god is not great is a 2007 book by angloamerican author and journalist christopher hitchens, in which he makes a case against organized religion. In the jargon of the philosophy of religion, the former type of logical arguments are sometimes called incompatibleproperties arguments. The second strongest rated argument was the argument from parsimony mean score. Adversarial proceedings about god, as if in a court of law, can provide insights. There are many diverse arguments in both categories. The case against religion and for humanism kindle edition by grayling, a. A posteriori arguments for atheism claim that the world is other than it would be if god existed, and so conclude from it that there cannot be a god. Atheism fields two kinds of arguments denying the existence of god. Dec, 2011 the majority of theists will not comprehend the targeted and sweeping nature of the argument total desecration blueprint for atheology. Atheist christopher hitchens case against the existence. Perhaps the most popular of such arguments is the evidential argument from evil, which cites the large amount of severe evil or suffering. Logical arguments attempt to show that the concept of god is selfcontradictory or logically inconsistent with some known fact.
I think many arguments for the existence of a god depend on the insufficiencies of human cognition. I do not propose to rehearse the various arguments for and against the existence of god, and still less to take a side. If god created all, there would have to have been a time when there was nothing in existence. Overall, the strongest rated natural theological argument was the argument from evil mean score. God is not great sometimes stylized as god is not great is a 2007 book by britishamerican author and journalist christopher hitchens, in which he makes a case against organized religion. The best argument against god palgrave pivot 20th edition by g. Introduction oppy says that while the discussion in his book suggests what he takes to be a very powerful cumulative case argument against theism, he. Of course finetuning is a necessary condition for us making finetuning arguments, but the theists point is rather that you would expect finetuning if theism is true, and the universe is finetuned, thus we have some evidence for god at least, that is what some philosophers argue, e.
The majority of theists will not comprehend the targeted and sweeping nature of the argument total desecration blueprint for atheology. In philosophical terms, the question of the existence of god involves the disciplines of epistemology the nature and scope of knowledge and ontology study of the. It is a fascinating look on how the arguments on many modern christian apologists, dont hold up when you examine them with sufficient scrutiny. In his polemical and sometimes bombastic tome, god is not great. With a close and erudite reading of the major religious texts, he documents the ways in which religion is a manmade wish, a cause of dangerous sexual repression, and a distortion of our origins. The real god is an abstract concept of something greater than ourselves free will is better explained as not being constrained the real and true god is the god that people experience every day the only kind of free will thats possible is us experiencing it god is real, and the evidence is in the lives of billions. For centuries, atheistic and agnostic philosophers have held that it is impossible for god to coexist with evil, claiming that god and evil are logically incompatible. Here are some reasons one might wish to question the existence of god, assuming this god is the one you are considering. What are the strongest arguments against the existence of.
For such a rabid godhater, christopher hitchens has a very pious background. Prices views are fair, well communicated and well argued. The claim that god does not exist is a claim to know something about god, namely, that he does not. The cause argument even if it were valid would prove only a first cause. If the god of classical theism exists, then hes not directly detectable. Arguments against the existence of god rationalwiki. The problem of evil the most weighty of the arguments against gods existence is an a posteriori argument. He is self styled, to be sure, but no more so than many others in. Jul 10, 2006 the best argument against the existence of god is the inability for their to exist a nothing. Science can explain how the universe began without the need for god e. Dec 08, 2016 if the god of classical theism exists, then hes not directly detectable. God does really bad, awful things so he must not be real. But he isnt, as the very existence of his many enemies tends to prove.
Each of the above arguments is independent of the others and cannot logically be used to reinforce the others. What is the best argument against the existence of god. That part is unconscious, but once establish in the psyche, then the only possib. Indeed, the strongest argument against religions should be, aside from the superstitions they engender, the. Here we present five arguments in favor of the existence of god, and the counterargument for it. Only by disputations and debate may truths about god emerge. What are the best arguments against god, given that god. Arguments against gods existence backyard skeptics. What are the strongest arguments against the existence of god. Top 10 arguments against existence of god written by top 100 arena on 20120803 arguing with a christian is like trying to. Grayling, provides the reader with an excellent modern reference to the most important.
Basically, it means you believe in god because it consoles you. Serious what is the best argument for the existence of god. But even if god exists, and even if he had an intelligent purpose in. Beneath his oxbridge talent at draping glibness in the raiment of erudition, hitchens proves to be an amateur in philosophy, an illiterate in theology, and a dishonest student of history. I heard the audio book of god is not great read by the author.
Arguments from design chapter vi of christopher hitchens extended critique of religion, god is not great. Bullying and shallow, god is not great is a haute middlebrow tirade, a stale venting of outrage and ridicule. Top 10 arguments against existence of god top 100 arena blog. An objective feature of the world is inconsistent with the attributes of god. What is the best argument an atheist has against the existence of god. Mar 04, 2010 thats why i focus on arguments against god. This is the way scientists would settle an argument about existence claims. This does not prove god does not exist but it fundamentally undermines the bible as a book derived from god and shows, at least parts of the bible, to be fiction created by men. For example, if i were to say that god is not great offers several arguments that are valid and many that are invalid, which i do in fact believe, this thesis would take quite a bit of effort to.
To counter, hitchens has to argue against god using arguments in one of two forms. The concepts of good and evil and virtue and vice, then, do not suddenly lose all meaning if god does not exist, in the same way as the concepts of true and. Thats why i must explore with all honesty the strong views of those who conclude with confidence that god does not exist. The case against religion and in the united states by twelve as god is not great. The biblical moral laws were created by men who passed them off as gods laws. Understanding and refuting the arguments for god big think. A collection of the best 40 atheist arguments against god. Evidential arguments attempt to show that certain known facts that are consistent with theism nevertheless provide evidence against it. Please do not turn this into a big argument, and to help this i will not give my opinions on the matter. General objection against all the rational proofs for god. How religion poisons everything paperback april 6, 2009.
What is your counter argument for the infinite regression. It was originally published in the united kingdom by atlantic books as god is not great. God in this argument refers to the standard omni christian god, but is applicable to any metaphysical, supernatural entity. I readily grant that we have cognitive limitations. God is not great is a 2007 book by britishamerican author and journalist christopher hitchens, in which he makes a case against organized religion. The god argument is a very respectful, thoughtprovoking and accessible book that addresses the case against religion while making the compelling case for a superior ethical way of living, humanism. With a close and erudite reading of the major religious texts, he documents the ways in which religion is a manmade wish, a cause of dangerous sexual repression, and a distortion of our origins in the cosmos. Arguments against the gospel seeing is believing so firm. How religion ruins everything, the acerbic author presents what aspires to be a tourdeforce refutation of religion in all its forms. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the god argument. Feel free to comment on the veracity or your opinion of each but remember to. Pdf hitchens begins his pungent polemic against religion by explaining how he came to.
What are the best arguments against god, given that god is. Five rational arguments why god very probably exists. I do not own any of the audio or visual content of. Religious topics abound on listverse and they are frequently the most commented upon. Richard swinburne 2004, 218, for example, argues that there is no great probability that moral awareness will occur in a godless universe. Feb 25, 2014 surely there are things not dreamt of in our philosophy, not to mention in our science but that fact is not a reason to believe in supernatural beings. Sep 23, 2014 or perhaps you do, you just havent been convinced.
It should be noted that he does not question whether religion is right or wrong. Robert lawrence kuhn interviews michael shermer, for. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. In the books he investigates 10 arguments for the existence of god. In reality, morality is a human phenomenon, the product of our evolution as a social species, and good and evil have nothing to do with any god. Logical arguments for atheism attempt to show that the concept of god is selfcontradictory or logically inconsistent with some known fact. A digital billboard, sponsored by the american atheists organization, on display in new york. He refuses to capitalize the word god, since that would be a. For such a rabid god hater, christopher hitchens has a very pious background. Without god, there can be no morality arguments against. In the tradition of bertrand russells why i am not a christian and sam harriss recent bestseller, the end of faith, christopher hitchens makes the ultimate case against religion.
Cass had started out with all the standard arguments for gods existence, the ones discussed in philosophy classes and textbooks. A variety of arguments have been developed that god is necessary to explain human awareness of moral truth or moral knowledge, if one believes that this moral awareness amounts to knowledge. What if most modern arguments against religious belief have been attacking the wrong god all along. The argument can be used against the existence of god andor his competence. My biggest fear is not that there is no god, but that i may fool myself into believing, falsely, that there is a god, when, truly, there is no god. Reading philosophy of religion 2010, with michael scott. Surely there are things not dreamt of in our philosophy, not to mention in our science but that fact is not a reason to believe in supernatural beings.
Arguments against the gospel seeing is believing so. The case that provides the strongest evidence for gods existence. Apr 12, 2011 arguments against the gospel seeing is believing. The case against the case for christ audiobook by robert m.
The best arguments for gods existence dont challenge. Please can i have existance for andor against god creating the world universehumans to help me with some re homework. Contrary to all science we have seen, and most debate over opposites, there does not exist the possibility if a complete void in the universe or in time. C download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The one theology book all atheists really should read news. Second, since god is a completely perfect being, there cannot be a second god, for they would have to differ in some way, and to differ from complete perfection is to be less than perfect and not be god. But if you want to argue against his existence, make sure you dont use bad arguments. From robert lawrence kuhn, host and creator of closer to truth. One can put forth different kinds of arguments to defend atheism. One kind is an evidential argument, where some contingent fact about the world is cited as evidence against gods existence. Deductive arguments the impossibility of god while christianity might be favorable in the existential aspect of evil, it still has problems regarding the problem of evil. Oct 23, 2015 in the books he investigates 10 arguments for the existence of god.
As we talk to unbelievers about our faith, one of the most common things that you come across is that age old argument of empiricalism, that is, in order for me to believe, i would have to touch, taste, feel, smell or hear from god. Jan 14, 2014 what if most modern arguments against religious belief have been attacking the wrong god all along. When attitudes are genuine though candid, friendly though resolute, arguments can enhance knowledge about god or. In the tradition of bertrand russells why i am not a christian and sam harriss recent bestseller the end of faith, christopher hitchens makes the ultimate case against religion. The one theology book all atheists really should read. My biggest fear is not that there is no god, but that i may fool myself into believing, falsely, that there is. The public evidence for god involves inferring gods existence from his effects andor his explanatory power. The case against religion and in the united states by twelve as god. Let me share with you the absolute worst argument you can use. Most intriguingly, this is happening not among theologians or ordinary believers, but in the crisp intellectual circles of academic philosophers, where the consensus had long banished the almighty from fruitful discourse. Great book for an indepth analysis i thought this book was a great read.
Premises 1 and 2 assert the fact that no evidence of the existence of god has been produced to date that is selfevident, observable, or can be reproduced. This is not to say that this is an antireligious book. As we talk to unbelievers about our faith, one of the most common things that you come across is that age old argument of empiricalism, that is, in order for me to believe, i would have to. This is the prepublication version which was subsequently revised to appear in creation 312. Arguments for and against gcserevision, rsreligious. Thats not to say that i think everything is within the scope of human knowledge. Grayling examines and rejects arguments in favor of religion and those with unsettled views probably have a larger tendency than others to gravitate towards philosophy, which tries to examine and assess broad questions about life and. In the tradition of bertrand russells why i am not a christian and sam harriss the end of faith, christopher hitchens makes the ultimate case against religion. This first seeks weaknesses or fallacies in pro god arguments. It has been some time since the last one so it seems like the time is ripe for another and this one is a great one for discussion. How religion poisons everything hitchens, christopher on.