I have previously argued that, contrary to popular opinion, there are ZERO arguments for the existence of God in the famous Five Ways passage by Aquinas in Summa Theologica (Part I, Question 2, Article 3: Whether God Exists?).Now I'm getting into what I do care about, namely the ACTUAL argument(s) that Aquinas gives to prove the existence of God. Here is one argument (possibly the only one) for the existence of God from Summa Theologica:THE IES ARGUMENT(MC3) There exists an IES be … [Read more...]
I Don’t Care – Part 3
February 14, 2016 by Leave a Comment
According to the Christian philosopher Peter Kreeft, and many others, Aquinas gives five different arguments for the existence of God. In the Handbook of Christian Apologetics (IVP, 1994; hereafter: HCA) by Peter Kreeft and Ronald Tacelli, there is a chapter that lays out twenty different arguments for the existence of God, and the first five arguments are versions of Aquinas' Five Ways:A word about the organization of the arguments. We have organized them into two basic groups: those wh … [Read more...]
I Don’t Care – Part 2
February 12, 2016 by Leave a Comment
OK. Maybe I care just a little bit.I summarized my complaint against Aquinas' Five Ways this way (in response to a comment from Jeff Lowder):I'm just pointing out that (a) NONE of the Five Ways is an argument for the existence of God as it stands (in the section called "Whether God Exists?"), and (b) in order to make use of any of the Five Ways as an argument for the existence of God, there is a serious amount of intellectual effort required to fill the logical gap that is located in the … [Read more...]
I Don’t Care
February 10, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Thomas Aquinas pulled a classic BAIT-AND-SWITCH move in Summa Theologica: “Therefore it is necessary to arrive at a first mover, moved by no other; and this everyone understands to be God.”“Therefore it is necessary to admit a first efficient cause, to which everyone gives the name of God.” “Therefore we cannot but admit the existence of some being having of itself its own necessity, and not receiving it from another, but rather causing in others their necessity. This all men speak of … [Read more...]
Does God Exist? Part 2
February 8, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Here is a third option for breaking down the question "Does God exist?" (click on the image below to get a clearer view of the chart): This is a variation on Option 2 (see the previous post in this series).In this analysis I stick with the process of simply adding on divine attributes to the creator in order to build up to the full traditional concept of God, or something close to the full … [Read more...]
From Keith Parsons: Craig on the Relevance of Christianity
February 7, 2016 by Leave a Comment
(redating post originally published on 13 November 2006)Keith Parsons recently sent me the following e-mail, which he has authorized me to post here on the Secular Outpost. Craig recently sent a message to Vic Reppert's Dangerous Idea blog What is really sad is that these "young people" that were subjected to Craig's browbeating probably got no chance at all to hear an equally eloquent case for the other side.; I had to fight off dyspepsia while reading it. Apparently Craig's daughter, … [Read more...]
What is Christianity? Part 8
February 7, 2016 by Leave a Comment
I have a cognitivist view of religions, and of Christianity in particular.1. Christianity is something that can be true (or false).2. An experience is NOT something that can be true (or false).3. A feeling is NOT something that can be true (or false).4. A commitment is NOT something that can be true (or false).5. A relationship is NOT something that can be true (or false).Therefore:6. Christianity is NOT an experience, or a feeling, or a commitment, or a r … [Read more...]
Daniel Howard-Snyder on the Trilemma Argument
February 7, 2016 by 46 Comments
(Redating post originally published on 30 April 2006)http://faculty.wwu.edu/howardd/mbgfp5web.pdf … [Read more...]
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