Premium Essay

The Existence of an Omnipotent God

In:

Submitted By moham11
Words 1530
Pages 7
"He is the One GOD; the Creator, the Initiator, the Designer. To Him belong the most beautiful names. Glorifying Him is everything in the heavens and the earth. He is the Almighty, Most Wise." This is the depiction of god in the Quran as well as in the Bible, Torah and many more. God can be simply described, as St Anslem said "nothing greater can be conceived". In essence it is the utmost supreme being and to be classified as a supreme being you must be the absolute of everything possible; such as love, knowledge, and existence. By definition a being must be omnibenevolent, omniscient, and omnipotent to be viewed as god, however if one or all of these attributes are proven impossible to achieve that must mean God does not exist if potrayed in Christian or Muslim perspective. Based on the theistic perception of God, this being cannot exist due to the countless issues that arises such as the paradox of hell, the problem of evil, the omnipotence paradox, the argument of freewill and lastly the dysteleological argument.
Before claiming God in nonexistant, we must first understand what it means to exist. To claim something exist is quite hard to prove given that there are many factors that can disapprove it such as senses. A materialistic philosopher would claim that by seeing colour shapes or feeling texture proves its existence however they are mere interpretations of our brain to create a sense and would colour exist if they were no light. These simple factors that we tend to take advantage of seem complex when scrutinized, furthermore how can weight exist if there is no gravity. Additionally sound is a mere interaction of ripples of subatomic molecules that are interpreted as sound. But these molecules are made of atoms and atoms can be reduced to barely nothing and in this atom consist subatomic particles where they a can be there or interchange wave flow and when

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Counter-Argument Towards J. L. Mackie’s Evil and Omnipotence

...Mackie argues that God does not exist because of his idea of the 3-0-God which states that God has to be omniscient, omnipotent and omni-benevolent to fulfill the properties of a true God. Perhaps the strongest argument that Mackie gives is that God can only be two out of the three properties in order for evil to exist thus stating that god cannot exist because he does not fulfill all three properties. In this paper, I will argue that this argument fails because Mackie is basing his points on his own thoughts about God. Mackie starts out his argument by stating that the problem of evil proves that either no god exists or at least the god of Christianity, Judaism and Islamic does not exist since the problem of evil provokes the three properties of God. Mackie supports this claim by saying, “These additional principles are that good is opposed to evil, in such a way that a good thing always eliminates evil as far as it can, and that there are no limits to what an omnipotent thing can do.” (Abel p.91) and concludes this claim with, “…propositions that a good omnipotent thing exists, and that evil exists, are incompatible.” (Abel p.91) Adequate solutions are also what backs up his major point about the problem of evil and states that God cannot be all knowing while being all-powerful and all-good because evil exists and would mean that God is unaware of evil in the world. God can be all-knowing and all-powerful but cannot be all-good since evil exists and gives God the false impression...

Words: 1136 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

The Problem of the Evil

...The most weighty of the arguments against God’s existence is the problem of evil. Of all the atheistic arguments, this is the one that has been around for longest, that has had the most words written about it, and that draws the most diverse responses from Christians. In brief, the problem is this: The traditional conception of God is as omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful), and benevolent. This implies that if God exists then he knows how to, wants to, and is able to prevent all suffering. If such a God existed, though, then he actually would prevent all suffering. Suffering, though, is a familiar part of the world around us; it has not been prevented. There is, therefore, no omniscient, omnipotent, and benevolent God. There are many different responses to the problem of evil. None of them is entirely satisfactory alone, but together they do cast doubt on whether the existence of evil disproves the claim that God exists. The first response to the problem of evil is the free-will defense. Much of the evil in the world occurs only because we choose to create it. The greatest evils in the world are those inflicted by man upon man. In making the world, God faced a choice: he could create free agents like us, or he could create automata, robots, without the ability to make choices of their own. God chose to create free agents, and he made the right choice; a world containing free agents is clearly more valuable than a world of robots. The pay-off...

Words: 1126 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

God vs No God

...The definition of “God” is the supernatural that is conceived as the perfect, omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe. God is the object of worship in monotheistic religions. After having studied this subject frequently back in the past and this chapter, there are many arguments for the existence of God such as the cosmological, the teleological, the ontological, and the moral arguments, etc. Although they are very powerful arguments, each one of them also has their own weakness. There are not only arguments towards the existence of God; however, there are also arguments against God as well. These are called the Empirical, Deductive, Inductive, and Subjective arguments. But, again, these arguments each also have their own strengths and weaknesses just like the arguments for the existence of God. One popular form of the Cosmological argument states that things exist and it is possible for those things to not exist; there is an uncaused caused for everything that has been brought into existence. So, according to this argument, the cause and what created the universe must have been God’s doing. However, this argument is thought by some to be completely illogical, as God would have to be caused as well. So, if God had a cause, what created God? Then there must be a higher power even above God. But yet, God is supposed to be all-powerful. Maybe it created itself? How is that possible? Perhaps the universe was always there, perhaps God was always there. I am...

Words: 1257 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

God and the Problem of Evil

...My essay will summarize the problem of evil and analytically assess how it is that evil weakens the traditional characteristics of God. I will attempt to explain how the existence of evil challenges the traditional characteristics of God such as omniscience, omnipresence and omnipotence and Omni benevolence using Hume’s famous quote, “Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then is he impotent. Is he able but not willing? Then is he malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Whence then is evil?” (Hume) The theological and metaphysical problem of evil was formulated in 1779 by David Hume in his work “Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion” where he asked the question, if God is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent and omnibenevolent then why does evil exist (Sherry)? The problem of evil causes us to look at the traditional characteristics of God and to analytically assess our suppositions about evil itself. If our God is a good, all powerful and just God as many people believe, then why would such a God allow evil to exist? This problem also brings to light questions about what is considered to be evil, whether it is moral evil committed by man or natural evil such as earthquakes, hurricanes and famine (Sherry). There are several arguments that have developed in reaction to the problem of evil that was suggested by David Hume. One such argument which is known as the free will defense claims that evil is solely caused by human beings, who must have the opportunity...

Words: 2021 - Pages: 9

Free Essay

The Problem of Evil Exemplar Essay

...the concept, that God is simultaneously both omnipotent and Omni-benevolent. They all also argue that God is the single and only cause of the existence of the Universe, and all of its constituents. One of the constituents is the existence of evil. The problem that theists face is, an argument that both atheists and anti-theists use to criticise religion, and question against God; How come Omni-potent God and Omni-Benevolent God, can exist alongside the existence of both Natural and Moral Evil, or at least tolerate it’s occurrence. This comes in the form of the ‘inconsistent triad’ in which , if one were take out either one of the 2 tributes of God, could solve the existence of Evil. To elaborate, if God was omnipotent, though not Omni-benevolent, it would explain, that this God is either Tyrannical, or in a way at the least Sadistic, resembling the God of the Old Testament. On the other hand, if God is Omni-benevolent, he would love humanity, yet does not have the power, to directly prevent it from happening to humanity. Many scholars and theologians, have attempted at solving the problem of evil using theodicies (Justifying the existence of God in the face of evil), two of which were concocted by Irenaean and Leibniz, but include theodicies by St. Augustine and Alfred Whiteheads’ Process theodicy. Irenaeus’ theodicy, argued (like St. Augustine) that moral evil, is the doing of man, by being deviant in their belief in God and faith. However, he argued that God is at least partly...

Words: 1268 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

The Problem of Evil

...The problem of evil is no problem at all In religious texts the world over the Abrahamic God possesses three inherent traits. He is omnibenevolent, omniscient, and omnipotent. God's omnibenevolence is one of the most appropriate reasons for worshiping him. But with that being said one finds it hard to view God as omnibenevolent when there is so much evil and suffering in the world. Some Atheists, perhaps unjustly, wield this discrepancy between idealistic dogma and perceived reality as strong evidence against the existence of God. First assume God exists. Along with his other powers, and most importantly for our species, God is supposed to possess omnibenevolence. Imagine a world created by an omnibenevolent god. What would this world look like? Most simply stated it would probably be a world like our own but with the absence of malevolence and suffering. This is a problem however, because by definition it does not match the world in which we exist. By imagining a universe without evil surely an omnipotent being could create such a thing if he so chose. God does not seem to have created such a universe, therefore he cannot be said to possess omnibenevolence. Or perhaps God wished to create such a universe but was incapable, refuting his omnipotence. Some atheists have used this line of thought to argue against any notion of a benevolent, all powerful God. At face value some might find this completely plausible but it is not as firm an argument as an atheist would hope. The...

Words: 1191 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Paley's Design Argument Analysis

...topic of whether an omnipotent, omnibenevolent, and omniscient being, known as God, truly exits in our world or not is constantly debated between mainly two types of beliefs: atheism and theism. Obvious to every individual, “God” cannot be seen, heard, or touched. Scientifically, there is no concrete proof of God’s existence. Simply, an atheist would assert that God does not exist due to scientific reasoning and logic and Rowe’s argument from evil. However, a theist would refute the atheist’s argument with Paley’s design argument and Swinburne’s free will defense. Ultimately, what can truly be known about God’s existence? God’s Existence Versus Logic From an atheist’s perspective, there is no evidence supporting God’s...

Words: 1208 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

To What Extent Do the Classical Arguments Make It Believable to Have Faith in God?

...arguing the existence of God, there are numerous teachings and arguments, some more rational than others, the classical arguments being the most well known to all. The claim in all these arguments uses a non-religious approach to logically reason the existence of God, rather than argue on the premise of faith to obtain a rational belief; a belief reasoning as justification. The classical arguments are divided into what is considered empirical and rational arguments, with every individual finding their own reasoning to relate to them. In this essay, I will explore the extent of how the classical arguments can proves God existence, and why some people counter-argue they cannot. The first of the classical arguments being Anselm’s Ontological argument, an argument attempting to prove God’s existence through abstract reasoning alone. The argument is entirely a priori as it does not include real evidence or anything factual, seeking to demonstrate that God exists based on the concept of God alone. The outline of the argument is that because we have an idea of God, an idea of a being which no greater can be thought, therefore God must exist. The argument relates to three concepts: the concept of God, perfection and of existence. The three concepts associate with one another, arguing that perfection is part of the concept of God, and that perfection entails existence, therefore the concept of God entails God’s existence. Anselm’s argument is set on the basis of a conception of God as “that...

Words: 2038 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

John Hick's Proof Of Evil

...evidential grounds. Classical theism states that God is omnipotent, omnibenevolent, as well as omniscient. However, if evil exists, can these attributes to God remain true? The coexistence of God and evil is a question that many philosophers have speculated and attempted to explain either through logic or evidence. Ancient Greek Philosopher, Epicurus, delineated the logical problem of evil in a clearly structured form in the third century BC. Epicurus’ breakdown of the logical problem of evil, which was sustained for almost two and a half millennia, suggests that there is no God who can be all powerful as well as all good . The basis of this argument proposed that, “the existence...

Words: 772 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Christian God Argument

...presenting an argument against the existence of Christian God. I will show how the Problem of Evil is a big factor when concerning Gods existence. I will explore the ideas of how God’s benevolence is contradictory to how the world is. I will also be presenting arguments for the existence of a God but countering them with my points along with philosopher’s theories. J.L Mackie said “if a good and powerful God exists, he would not allow pointless evil, but because there is much unjustifiable, pointless evil in the world, the traditional and powerful God could not exist.”[1]. When we talk about a benevolent God the problem arises of Evil in the world. It’s a problem because God is attributed as being Omnipotent, Omniscient...

Words: 763 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

What Is Meant by the Problem of Suffering for Religious Believers? Examine Two Solutions to This Problem

...problem of evil and suffering is that it challenges the existence of God. J.L Mackie argued that the existence of an omnipotent and omnibenevolent God was not compatible because of the existence of evil, this created the inconsistent triad. Mackie said that “if God is omnipotent and omnibenevolent how can there be evil and suffering in the world”. An all powerful God could stop evil, yet it exists. An all loving God would want to stop evil, yet it exists. Evil doesn’t exist as an entity on its own. As evil is the absence of good, it is the darkness in our lives. God has the power and inclination to stop suffering, yet evil exists. There are two types of evil that cause suffering, these being natural evil and moral evil. Natural evil is that of the natural world such as, floods, diseases and earthquakes. Moral evil is humans doing immoral actions, such as 9/11 bombings or the Holocaust. These horrific events were carried out by humans. God allowed us to have free will so moral evil challenges God’s nature as God allowed these incidents to occur which caused many innocent people to suffer and die. If God was all loving then surely God would want to put an end to evil and suffering? Incidents like these bring about questions about God’s goodness and causes some people to believe that God is not all good. As an imperfect God is not of classical theism, some believers could say this God is not worth worshipping if that God isn't omnibenevolent. A solution to the problem of suffering...

Words: 1096 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

What Is Meant by the Problem of Suffering for Religious Believers?

...believers. Evil and suffering can be seen to pose strong challenges against the existence of a God, more specifically an omnipotent and omnibenevolent God. Whilst John Hick describes evil and suffering as “physical pain, mental suffering and moral wickedness”, the problem is widely seen to refer to the existence of both natural evil, such as natural disasters, and moral evil, heartless actions such as murder, along with the suffering that is often a result of these. Perhaps one of the most significant aspects of the problem of suffering, the issue suggests that only two of the three features of the God of classical theism can be possible. If God is omniscient, he is all knowing and is knowledgeable of the suffering that exists. If God is omnipotent, then he must have the power to stop this suffering, and if he is an omnibenevolent, all-loving God, he must wish to stop this suffering. The existence of suffering suggests that God cannot be omniscient and omnipotent and still be omnibenevolent in agreement. As David Hume describes, God must be either malevolent or powerless for the other two features to remain applicable. Aquinas also argued this case, but referred to the idea that “the name of God means that He is infinite goodness”, which signifies that a God that did not meet the particulars of the God of classical theism is not viable. However, Aquinas’ argument is based upon the two assumptions that God is infinitely good, and that God’s goodness is the same as human goodness...

Words: 1478 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Philosophy of Free Will and Theology

...The Problem of Evil McCayley Hendricks MWF-2pm #3564 November 17, 2014 One of the most prominent arguments against the existence of God today would be the problem of evil. Not only is it a problem for Christians, who want to provide a defense for their faith, but it is also a problem for Christians, who being faced with suffering and pain on account of evil, and without knowing the thoughts or intentions of God, wish to reconcile the two ideas together. In spite of Mackie’s Logical Argument of Evil proving, some would say, that it is not possible for both God and evil to exist, I believe that it is in fact possible that they exist simultaneously. My reason for believing so stems from the Free-Will Defense, coupled with a deeper understanding and more clearly defined description of the attributes of God and how they work together. I will also highlight scripture that incorporates both the existence of evil as well as the existence of God, who remedies the evil into a greater good, reiterating a point made in premise 4 of Plantinga’s Free Will Defense. In order to walk you through my thought process, I will start with a basic outline of Mackie’s Logical Argument, as well as include why this is a problem for theists. I will then define some ambiguous terms in his argument, and shed some light on the culture-saturated definitions of Christian lingo used in the argument. And finally, I will present the Free-Will Defense and show how this paired with the previous information...

Words: 2028 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Washburn's Two Perspectives Of Capitalism

...Swinburne offers a strong counterargument in the form of a theodicy. Swinburne takes up the position that God is only omniscient within the logical realm (i.e. his actions must be logical) and that people have free will (Swinburne, 83). Swinburne refutes critics who claim God could have created perfectly-good humans by explaining that by commanding his creations to always choose the good, God would be breaking logic, something even an omniscient being can’t do. He similarly explained that God couldn’t have reduced evil, as that would still be indirectly controlling humans, which he said was analogous to “hypnosis or drugs” (Swinburne, 85). Another approach to the problem of evil is the soul-making defense, of which Hick is a key figure. Hick argues evil exists as a form of human development. Hick firmly stated that a human which “attained to goodness” via experience, was more valuable than one created as such ab initio (Hick,...

Words: 1696 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Does God Exist

...Proving the existence of God is a confounding problem that has captured the interest of people for many centuries. From the point of view of human suffering, it is possible to argue that the existence of evil and suffering in the world is a basis to challenge the existence of God Johnson explains this problem using the example of a six month old infant who perishes in an inferno. “Can we consider anyone as good who had the power to save this infant from painful death and did not” (Johnson, p.1). According to the arguments put forward by atheists, the existence of God is not compatible with the existence of evil. The existence of God would require that evil would not exist in the world. Therefore, conversely, since evil exists and leads to Human...

Words: 593 - Pages: 3