Philosophy of Religion

My God or Your God
Throughout the history of mankind, humans have believed and had no doubt in the existence of a God or gods, for thousands of years. People lived their lives believing and worshiping some sort of superior power. But after thousands of years, we notice that in the 19th century and beyond to present day, people have lost connection with God and stopped having faith. In regards to faith, I believe that we are limited with evidence, therefore we have limited answers. With so many beliefs, religions, and faiths out there in the world, it is easy for someone to give up in their faith, and end up believing in nothing. We then potentially become atheists or agnostics. Also, if we are born with no strong background religion, then it will be impossible for someone to believe in God or any faith. I think people take the easy route; if it does not make sense to them, then they automatically do not believe in it. This acquisition questions our purpose of living in this world. Why are we here? What is our purpose? These questions I believe are difficult or maybe even impossible to understand.
As a Gnostic theist I strongly believe that God does exist. I am going to defend my position using the teleological argument. Here are the reasons that I am going to discuss that justify the existence of God: 1. the universe has complex purposes. 2. The human mind is incapable of understanding the complexity and aims of the universe. 3. There are no valid objections to the fact that the universe has a system of design. After stating these reasons then we can conclude that there must be a designer of the universe with knowledge of complexity and purposes.
Before I begin to explain each reason I will define the term teleology. The word "teleological" comes from the Ancient Greek word telos, which means "end" or "purpose". A simpler example would be a tool such as the clock, which is designed by man to tell the time. Teleology is a philosophical idea that things have goals or causes. It is the view that developments in this universe are due to the purpose or design which is served by them. Whether or not an entity (man or god) is needed to cause teleology to happen is one of the most important questions. All cultures we know of have created stories in their religion. It talks about the argument if the world exists to the fact that it exhibits certain features. These features suggest the mind or intelligence. It suggests that the world contains things which act or behave in ways that seem goal orientated rather than chance or random. In addition, to that thought humans are incapable of fully comprehending the complexity, functions, and purposes, of the universe. There must be some other superior power containing all this. In other words, humans are not responsible for the function or purposes displayed by things in nature.
The first reason that justifies the existence of God is that the universe has complex purposes. We have learned that every aspect of the universe always tends to a goal. A few examples that we learned is the cycle of life, the cycle of reproduction, and the cycle of seasons, etc. Each piece of the universe, each part of the human body, and each species of animal, all tend to a goal. The second complex purpose is that the universe works in systems and routine. Systems and routines relate back to the arguments in Aquinas. His argument discusses that all natural things are guided towards ends by the intelligence of God. The third complex purpose is that we have built in purpose. In other words, humans have innate desires to fulfill a purpose. The fact that historically people have been seeking God/gods/spirituality/metaphysics shows that we have an innate desire to want to have a purpose. People say things like they feel meaningless or useless when they are not working towards something. One of my favorite analogies that I like to reference on is the ‘Paley’s pocket watch’ analogy. The pocket watch example should be something we all know. It is too complex to have just appeared like a rock. So we can trace it back to a creator with a knowledge that exceeds the creation. The person who made the pocket watch had to have full knowledge of the inner mechanics and its eventual purpose of telling time. This ultimately relates to God designing us. Finally, the last complex purpose is that there is perfect balance on earth to sustain life. I love asking questions like why is the earth so perfect for us to live here? Even if we did begin with a big bang, how is that the earth has the capabilities of sustaining life as complex as human life? We can make a logical guess and say that we need delicate balances of different elements in this universe in order to live. With that said it is perfect here created by a perfect being.
The second reason that justifies the existence of God is that the human mind is incapable of understanding the complexity and aims of the universe. Natural processes often work together in mysterious ways that cannot be explained. The frost analogy discussed in one of our class discussions was a great topic to talk about because it displayed how some things are mysterious or difficult to explain in this world. The Frost analogy is the one where someone sees an image of the nativity scene in the frost on a window. While there could be many scientific reasons for it (humidity, density of glass, temperature outside, condensation freezing), it does not explain why the nativity scene is what was created. It is a beautiful mystery. In the same way, we cannot explain why science works in the way it does. We cannot explain how the perfect balance is achieved. Furthermore, science takes years to understand. We notice in this world that even simple concepts have not yet reached full understanding. A perfect example would be the force of gravity. No one knows the reason behind gravity and its purpose. We are still pursuing the wonders of science in the natural world. It has taken years, yet absolute knowledge is beyond anyone's grasp. This points towards an ultimate intelligence that already understands all of these processes. Think of how long people thought the earth was flat- we lack that intelligence. Convincingly, we can say that humans lack foresight. We cannot see what will happen tomorrow. We cannot predict what is coming next. So we are not able to observe the patterns in full. This also points to an ultimate being that has seen the plan through (blueprint) and is directing the earth as follows. If we think about it, it is like the bow and arrow example where God is the bow and we are the arrow and he is guiding us to where it is planned.
The third reason that justifies the existence of God is that there are no valid objections to the fact that the universe has a system of design. Even if someone can attempt or try to disprove God, their claim will not be valid enough to prove that the existence of God is not true. The Romans said, “For instance the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”” (Romans 1:20). The ancient Romans thoughts and ideas are still surprising valid and true in regards of a superior power. This argument existed in the Bible as well. A document that many people take as authority includes historical references and cross-checks. This might not be the most concrete supporting claim- but I feel it was important to add it to the conversation. It shows that God has the intention of showing himself through natural processes and patterns. All of the academic areas of study such as, anatomy, physiology, psychology, biology, astronomy, geology, geography, and history show some sort of systematic design. A few examples would be the system of digestion, the way our neurons fire perfectly to cause memory and movement, the forming of rocks, and even the repeating of history. Animals, plants and planets show clear signs of being designed for specific ends, therefore there must have been a designer. The Anthropic Cosmological Principle is the strongest card in the theist hand. The laws of the universe seem to have been framed in such a way that stars and planets will form and life can emerge. Many constants of nature appear to be very finely tuned for this, and the odds against this happening by chance are astronomical. I would like to conclude with the complexity of the universe that it is finely tuned, delicate, and precise that there must be a designer that placed the foundation to keep it in balance.
Subsequently, after proving the existence of God, using those three valid reasons I used above, there are still criticism of teleology. These are: there’s no proof of God, everything has cause, therefore who created God? and science can only explain all of the universe. Even though these three criticisms might sound true for some people, they are still false and not valid. By saying that there is no proof of God is illogical. If you trace back, you eventually find an origin with the capability of being more complex than its creation. The proof is in the current existence of patterns and complex systems. The second disproof is not logic. Since we know that God is the ultimate and first being ever why would anything be before him? Nothing can cause God because he is God. You don't have to have an explanation for an explanation. In other words, there's no point of questioning God and say that who designed him because then we will begin to have an infinitive regressive of explanations, so that then nothing can be explained. All of this means that we cannot explain the existence of God with science. Everything must have a cause. It is impossible to continue backwards to infinity with causes, therefore there must have been a first cause which was not conditioned by any other cause. That cause must be God. God's existence is much superior and complex than the universe. Therefore, people believe that since something doesn't make sense to them they automatically don't believe it. With that said, science has not reached full understanding. And we cannot explain the existence of the scientific processes that are working together.
People gain faith in ‘Natural Reason’, and through ‘divine revelation’. Even though we don’t understand exactly, we have enough knowledge that’s something is higher and superior than us. This argument provides revealed theology which is the divine evidence or reason and knowledge. Faith is comforting for people. Faith is helpful when in need. Faith is the evidence that appears not. In order to believe in God you must have some epistemic standards that set apart from atheism. These conditions can be moderate or even extreme. In simpler terms, in order for someone to be an extreme agnostic theist, that ultimately makes him or her Christian. Having these strong beliefs came from somewhere. They didn’t come from some make believe fairy tale. People gain faith through life experiences. Depending what denomination you belong to you have learned and have been indoctrinated in your religion. In other words, you were born into a culture or a religion. And you are forced to be part of it. Just like John Heil stated, “we do not choose which beliefs to hold” (Peter Van Inwagen). He is absolutely right. Every religious family that raises a child, the parents mold their child to what they want it to feel, think, do, and what not to do. I can discuss why we do not choose what belief to hold. Where and where you were born plays a big role if you get to choose what to believe in. An example would be if you were born as a Muslim and brought up into a Muslim family and culture. Right from the beginning you never had the chance to decide for yourself. You were simply forced as a child to practice the Muslim ‘way’ or ‘beliefs’. Another reason why John Heil believes that we do not choose which belief to hold is primarily because of authority. In other words, our parents tell us what to do and what not to do. Overtime, without deciding what belief you want to hold, you are potential to become indoctrinated or ‘brainwashed’ in what the authorities want you to believe.

Many philosophers have made up their decision and beliefs already. And so did I. “I think, therefore I am” (Descartes). This philosopher, Descartes, said something very symbolic. It is so true. God gave us a brain and a mind to think for ourselves and make our own decisions. We think, so that means we are real. There is no doubt that we are not experiencing reality. God gave us a brain so we can use it. I am not here to force you to believe in what I want you to believe; I am just informing you what I learn and what I believe. By sharing these ideas, others can potentially conquer or take over other ideas and open new doors. Even the greatest philosophers of all time like Socrates had their own beliefs, but they still thought that they knew a fraction of truth. Socrates said, “What I know for sure is that I know nothing”. This statement is so true and significant. That just shows that the even one of the best philosophers of all time didn't even have enough knowledge to answer all his questions. No matter how we put it we still do not know for sure about the truth. I think we know enough to believe in God and that’s it. The all and ultimate truth will be always hidden from us and we will forever try and reach to be close to the truth for our own good.
Without a doubt, I am a Gnostic theist. I believe with all my heart that God is real. Based on how I was brought up and what kind of religion and culture I was introduced ultimately molded my interpretation of God and made me believe that God is real. I strongly believe that nature and nurture have a big role in the making of a person. In addition, I have experienced true life scenarios that could not be explain with science. These phenomenons are hard to figure out why they happen, how often they happen, and what makes them happen. There are things in this world that I believe that we have not discovered and maybe we will never discover. It could be a different property or form of life or energy. These things are difficult to explain to my friends because most of them never experience or even thought of these things. So they immediately deny it and don’t believe what I say. In conclusion, I must say that I strongly believe that there is a designer of the universe. Someone has to have full knowledge of all the variables that come together to fulfill end goals. This ‘someone’ must be all knowing, all powerful, and forever present.