130 likes | 237 Views
Arguments on the Existence of God. Questions of the Non-believers. Who created God? Which came first the universe or God? Why do we need to say the universe needs a God? Why do we need a God if the universe has always existed? Maybe God is just the creation of man.
E N D
Questions of the Non-believers • Who created God? • Which came first the universe or God? • Why do we need to say the universe needs a God? • Why do we need a God if the universe has always existed? • Maybe God is just the creation of man.
Why bother ask the question of the existence of God? Meaning Direction
Someone fixed things • “By far the most popular answer, and one that is enjoying significant support from many scientists themselves, is that the universe was designed by a supreme intelligence to make it possible for life to exist here. The logic underlying this conclusion is not difficult to follow. That the universe is arranged in a highly specific fashion to make it possible for life to exist is entailed in the very concept of a creator God. (Boa and Bowman)”
Video—BBC –Atmosphere-- (15 minutes) • “ This is our planet the earth. It is unique in the solar system perhaps even in the universe.”
Discussion (5 minutes) • What can you say about the uniqueness of our planet? • What can you say about the fact that it was designed to sustain life?
Larry King: Do you believe in God? • Stephen Hawking: God may exist, but science can explain the universe without the need for a creator. • Larry King:...Why do you think people react to your contention that it is not necessary to invoke God to explain the creation of the universe? • Stephen Hawking: Science is slowly answering the questions that use to be the province of religion.
Discussion: • What do you have to say about the claim of Stephen Hawking that “science can explain the universe without a need for a creator?” • What else is striking in the interview with Stephen Hawking?
“According to M-theory, ours is not the only universe. Instead, M-theory predicts that a great many universes were created out of nothing. Their creation does not require the intervention of some supernatural being or God.” (Hawking)
Video—Fr. Spitzer— • The Universe can create itself out of nothing is self-refuting.
If Dr. Hawking does not believe that there is any reason to think that the universe had a beginning (from physics or philosophy), then why does he even bother to speculate about how the universe could spontaneously create itself from nothing? I am left to assume that Dr. Hawking does believe there are reasons for thinking the universe had a beginning – otherwise his contention about “the universe coming from nothing” makes no sense. Fr. Spitzer
Discussion • What do you think about this statement of Fr. Spitzer? Do you agree? Why or why not? • I am left to assume that Dr. Hawking does believe there are reasons for thinking the universe had a beginning – otherwise his contention about “the universe coming from nothing” makes no sense. Fr. Spitzer