Said Ali and Esther Puray
I. Introduction A. Background
A.1. The capacity of human beings to think rationally makes them question the existence of beings which leads to the concept of atheism. A.2. What is Atheism? A.3. One example of an atheist is Ram Samudrala. A.4. Who is Ram Samudrala?
B. Issue
B.1. Is the existence of god meaningful or meaningless? B.2. The theists say that god’s existence is meaningful because there would be nothing now; no motion and no existence, since he is the primary cause of all things and the primary mover.
B.3. The atheists say that god’s existence is meaningless because believing in the existence of a god would be irrelevant since if this god, whom we assume that has free will, also gave us the same free will, then humans would just comply to his knowledge of the future thus humans’ free will contradicts an omniscient god or an all knowing god and from this, we can say that god is dead.
C. Thesis Statement Therefore, the question of god is meaningless because humans have free will so their decisions are independent of god, and that he creates or promotes conflict.
II. Body
A. Argument 1: Humans have free will so their decisions are independent of god
A.1. Introduction - Definition and concept of free will: capacity of rational agents to choose a course of action from among various alternatives
1. God created a universe, which is random
a) Randomness is a requirement for free will b) Life and universe as a game simulation (“The Sims”) c) Determinism is impossible for god because if god knows everything that we’ll do and every event that will happen to us, then it seems that we have no free will because of the plans laid out for us. 2. Free will as being the source of our actions a) God cannot control the behavior of humans b) Criminal acts and good deeds c) Humans cannot blame a supreme being for the consequences of their actions thus encourage responsibility for one’s actions.
3. Free will to choose what is right or wrong (ethical level) a) God doesn’t have the authority to judge what is right or wrong for it’s creations b) Golden rule c) God even with such a power does not guarantee it any superiority over me on an ethical level.
Conclusion
* Randomness is required to have free will * God does not have deterministic control * If god has deterministic control then we have no free will * God cannot control the behavior of humans * Humans can decide on their own on what is right and wrong
B. Argument 2: God creates or promotes conflict.
Introduction - Following from free will, people have the freedom to do and believe in anything - Nietzsche’s quote of God is dead
1. Modernism/Development of science and technology
a) Through modernism, humans distance themselves from a god
b) People patronize new technology and create devices that are harmful c) God is “dead”
2. Atrocities in the world are done in the name of god a) God cannot stop these acts because he cannot control the behavior of humans b) Terrorism; Holocaust; Colonization c) Hands off god
3. For people to be responsible for one’s actions a) People blame the consequences of their actions to a supreme being and they all leave it up to god b) The “Bahala na attitude” c) Encourages laziness and conformity
Conclusion * People today are detached from god because of modernism * God is dead * People use god as an excuse for their actions * People following a double standard * Hands off god cruel god
III. Conclusion - Summary * Because of free will humans are independent of god * No reason to believe in the relevance of a god. * Therefore, we find that the existence of a god meaningless.
Spacing 1.25
Margin 1.75
Font eras light itc- 12
Paper justified
Begin an argument(new page)
Standard title page 