Is it possible to prove that God does not exist?
Although we do not have a complete understanding of the universe, it is possible to prove that certain specific gods could not exist, using logical arguments. It is important to correctly describe the God of Christianity, since arguing against the existence of a lesser god is not relevant.
In arguing against the existence of the Christian God, one must rely upon what the Bible claims as attributes of this God - regardless of whether or not one accepts the Bible as being true. We will examine arguments proposed to prove the non-existence of the Christian God, using evidence from the Bible and science. Here are some of the classic arguments and rebuttals.
David Hume:"If
the evil in the world is intended by God he is not good. If it violates his
intentions he is not almighty. God can't be both almighty and good. There are
many objections to this, but none that holds since God is ultimately
responsible for the existence of evil. Besides, if only God can create he must
have created evil. If somebody else (the devil) created evil, how can one know
that God, and not Satan created the universe?"
Beyond the Cosmos: What Recent Discoveries in Astrophysics
Reveal about the Glory and Love of God? It is true that God cannot be both
almighty and good if you restrict Him to our level - three dimensions of space
and one dimension of time. However, this God is not the God of reality or
Christianity, since both the Bible and science would indicate that God must
exist in more than three dimensions of space and one dimension of time. The
Bible says the universe cannot contain God (1), indicating He must exist and
operate in dimensions of space and time other than those to which we are
confined.
The Bible also says God created time and was acting before time began
(2), confirming that God exists in at least two dimensions of time. A single
dimension of time (a line) has a beginning point and can only travel in one
direction. Two dimensions of time (a plane) has no beginning or ending so that
a being existing in such a plane would be free to move to any point along any
line of time within that plane.
Both of these descriptions of God are confirmed by what we
know from science. According to particle physics and relativity, at least nine
dimensions of space existed at the creation of the universe. God must be able
to operate in all of those nine dimensions in order to have created the
universe.
A verse from the book of Hebrews indicates God created the universe
out of some of the dimensions of space and time which are not visible to us
(3).
Stephen Hawking, George Ellis, and Roger Penrose extended the equations
for general relativity to include space and time (4). Not only space, but also
time has a beginning - at the moment of creation. Therefore, if God created the
universe, He was acting before the creation of time, indicating He exists in at
least two dimensions of time. If God existed in only one dimension of time,
then He would have had to have been created at one point. The Bible says God
was not created, but has existed from eternity past to eternity future.
The main problem with this argument is a lack of
understanding of the reason for the creation of the universe. The universe was
not created to be good. God created the universe as a temporary testing site
for creatures to choose to love Him or reject Him. God is good, but He has
allowed His creatures free-will to do whatever they want within their limited
dimensionality. God has designed the universe to operate under a set of
physical principles, which He, only occasionally, suspends. If God were to
suspend the laws of physics on a regular basis the universe would be a universe
of chaos and unpredictability. Such as universe would not be a good testing
ground for confused mortal beings. The purpose of the universe is to allow
God's creatures the choice to love Him. Love is not possible without free-will.
Therefore God chooses to allow His creatures the ability to do evil for the
purpose of permitting them also to love. If God controlled everything we did,
we could not demonstrate love, since we would be pre-programmed to respond. A
computer cannot love, but free-will beings can.
The temporary nature of the universe and created beings
requires that the universe operate under the law of entropy. If there were no
entropy, we could not be tested since we would, by definition, be eternal and
not have to face the mortality of our existence. Such an existence would not
require our dependence upon God, since we would never have to face Him. The law
of entropy guarantees our mortality and that we will suffer pain and death at
some point. Neither pain nor death is evil from a Christian perspective. For
example, pain is a necessary function in our lives. If we could not feel pain,
we would end up causing serious damage to ourselves. Whenever I get burned, I
move my hand rapidly away from the source of the pain. If I had no pain
receptors, I would probably continue to burn my hand until I noticed the smoke.
This would obviously not be a good thing to do. Likewise, death is required in
a universe governed by entropy. Without animal death, very soon all the carbon on
the earth would be bound in living organisms, with none available for
photosynthesis.
Most atheists define evil according to their own
interpretation. By defining evil as things they don't like, they have created a
circular argument guaranteed to "prove the non-existence" of God. The
Christian definition of evil is anything done by one of God's spirit beings
(humans or angels) against Him (or His created beings). As such, God is never
responsible for evil - only His created spirit beings.
Atheists say that since only God can create, therefore He
must have created evil. However, at this point the atheist has redefined the
meaning of create. Evil was not created. Evil is manifested (committed) by
free-will beings. Nice play on words, but it doesn't stand up to examination.
by Rich Deem
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- Behold, heaven and the highest
heavens cannot contain Thee... (1 Kings 8:27)
The Almighty is beyond our reach. (Job 37:23) - This grace was given us in Christ
Jesus before the beginning of time (2 Timothy 1:9)
The hope of eternal life, which God... promised before the beginning of time (Titus 1:2)
To the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 1:25) - The universe was formed at God's command, so that what was seen was not made out of what was visible. (Hebrews 11:3)