For the Skeptics...

[Anaxfly]

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For the sake of peace, this thread will be automatically locked, and if you have any questions about these arguments, you may PM me.
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THEOLOGY: THE DOCTRINE OF GOD[/center]
I. THE COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT (ARGUMENT FROM CASUALITY)

A. Truth- "That which corresponds to reality or its object." Truth is one of God's attributes.

1. Deuteronomy 32:4-His work is perfect; . . . a God of truth without injustice."
2. Psalm 33:4- "For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does."
3. John 1:1- "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
4. John 17:17- "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth"

B. The Nature of the Universe- According to Albert Einstein and other modern scientists, the uni-verse is comprised of three things: matter, space, and time.
C. The Cosmological Argument:

1. Everything that has a beginning has a cause.
2. The universe has a beginning (Laws of motion, casuality, thermodynamics, the Big Bang, radiation echo, red shift, universe expanding, earth's rotation is slowing down, tmoon is moving away, can't have infinite # of days/events)

a. Atomic Second- "One second is defined to be the time it takes for radiation from a celsiem-133 aom to complete 9.192.631,770 cycles of oscillation." (James S. Walker, Physics, pg. 4).

3. Therefore, the universe has a cause.
4. Thus, the cause of the universe must be uncaused and ouside of the universe. The Creator (and Cause) of time, space, and matter cannot be limited by time, space, or matter.

Idea 1: If an infinite number of planks existed between Post A and Post B, it would be impossible to reach Post B, because the number of planks has no end. Reaching Post B would mean the Planks ended.
Idea 2:

[/u] If the universe has always existed, then an infinite number of moments must have existed before today. This would mean that we could never reach today. Since today is here, there cannot be an infinite number of moments before today. Thus, the universe must have a finite number of moments, which means the universe must have a beginning.[/i]
1. An infinite # of days/moments has no end.
2. Today is the end day/moment of history.
3. Therefore, there was not an infinite # of days/moments before today (this moment).
Example:[/i] If one gear cannot be the cause of its own motion, then an infinite number of the same kind of gear cannot explain the motion either.
or[/i]
An individual suspending chain link is dependent on another link in order to hang, but an infinite number of the same kind of link cannot explain the suspension.
Therefore...[/i]
The movement of the gears and the suspension of the chain links are dependent on something that does not have the same limitations. Something outside the gears mush move them and something else must hold the chain up.
There cannot be an infinite regress of days/moments/events/causes. Otherwise, we could not get to today. And since and infinite has no end, additional days/moments/events/causes would have to be added to the past, which is impossible[/i][/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote][/center]

II. THE NATURE OF GOD (GOD'S NON-MORAL ATTRIBUTES)

A. Pure Actuality-

That which is. God is "pure act."[/blockquote]

1. If God is uncaused, then nothing is actualizing him (causing him to be, or causing him to exist).
2. If nothing is actualizing (causing to be) God, then God cannot have an potential.
3. God never "came to be," so he has no potential to be anything other than what he is. Whatever is cause has its potential actualized. Since God is uncaused, he cannot have any potential.
4. God simply "is who he is."

a. Exodus 3:14- "God said to moses, 'I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: "I AM has sent me to you."'"
b. John 1:3- "All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being."

5. God cannot create another being that has pure actuality (he cannot cause an uncaused being), and he cannot create a being that has pure potentiality (mere potential to exist means it does not exist yet). God can only create beings that have both actuality and potentiality. Created beings have their potential actualized.

God

Actuality ---------- Actuality

Uncaused Being
Pure Actuality
Does Not Have the Potential to Not Exist
In order for man (or anything else) to exist, God must actualize (cause) his potential to exist.

[/i]
Man[/u]

Actuality ---------- Potential

Caused Being
Has Actuality and Potentiality
Has the Potential to Not Exist

Man cannot be exactly like God; otherwise, amn would have pure actuality and would be uncaused.
Man cannot be completely different from god; otherwise, man would have pure potentiality and would not exist.
Thus, man must be similar, or analogous to God. Man is in the image and likeness of God.
Analogous:[/u] Both Have Actuality, But Only Man Has Potentiality[/center]

B. Infinite-

[/b][/u] Having no limits. If nothing is causing God, then nothing is limiting him. Therefore, whatever God "has," He has without limits. To understand God's nature, we must negate the finite from Him. God cannot be divided or measured, and he cannot have any boundaries or parts. Thus, God is a simple being (having no parts; cannot be divided). He is not a complex being (has parts; can be divided). Humans are complex beings.[/blockquote]

1. Psalm 145:3- "Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom."
2. Job 36:26- "How great is God--beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out."
3. Psalm 147:5- "Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite."

C. Monotheism-

[/u] The belief in one God. There cannot be two infinite Gods because they would have to be distinguished from each other by what one had and what the other lacked. If one lacks something, he is not infinite.[/blockquote]

1. Isaiah 42:10- "Before me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after me."
2. Isaiah 44:6,8- "I am the first and thte last; besides me there is no God."
3. Deuteronomy 6:4- "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one."
4. 1 Timothy 2:5- "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."

D. Eternal- timeless. God is not limited to time. He has no beginning or end.

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To be continued...
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